The new AVE train route between Barcelona and Madrid has been a roaring success. More passengers have made the journey by train than by plane for the first time.

Between July and September of 2009, 651,498 passengers made the 314-mile journey between the two largest cities in the country. That's a rise of 21 per cent compared with the same period in 2008.
In comparison, 643,512 travellers undertook the same journey by plane, a fall of 7.5 per cent compared with the third quarter of last year.
Madrid to Barcelona is the fifth busiest air route in the world, with four airlines offering 116 flights a day. Since the rail link opened last year, Renfe, the Spanish state rail operator, have challenged the airlines for supremacy. The high-speed train, which takes 2hr 40min to travel between Madrid and Barcelona, at 236.3 kilometres per hour (146.8mph), has won over commuters with competitive fares, greater comfort and the absence of time consuming airport security.

Renfe plans to extend the high speed train service throughout Spain. Vast improvements are planned that wo