A high-speed rail network launched across Spain means tourists can now travel the entire length of the country in a matter of hours.
Using the billion euro Iryo rail route, passengers can make the more than 1,000 km journey from Barcelona to Seville in under six hours.
By comparison, the 600km journey from London to Edinburgh using British rail services typically takes a similar amount of time.
The state-of-the-art aerodynamic design of the Spanish trains and tailored rail line means the fleet can reach top speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour.
Iryo describes the Hitachi-Bombardier ETR 1000 trains as “the fastest, most modern and most sustainable train in Europe”.
Spain has the longest high-speed rail network in Europe, at over 25,000 miles long it dwarfs the total 68 miles of high-speed rail in Britain.
A report commissioned by the Spanish Ministry of Transport and published earlier this year found the average cost of building a high-speed rail line in the country was €17.7 million per kilometre
Despite the eye watering cost, the price of building high-speed rail in Spain is actually significantly lower than other countries which currently operate similar networks, averaging €45.5 million per kilometre.
In addition to Barcelona and Seville, the route calls at Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga.
A typical single ticket booked a couple of days in advance costs around £70, however booking in advance can reduce the cost of a return journey to as little as £65.
Passengers are able to choose from four rail fares, ranging from an economy option to an all-inclusive package with luxury seating and food service.
Across all carriages, passengers are able to access a high-speed WiFi network and can make use of an integrated onboard entertainment platform to pass the time.
