Spain's King Juan Carlos inaugurated Saturday the country's latest high-speed rail service linking Madrid with the Mediterranean port city of Valencia. The ¤12.4 billion ($16.4 billion) project connects the capital to country's third largest city and is due to complete the 352 kilometer (219 mile) journey in 90 minutes. King Juan Carlos was accompanied on the inaugural trip by Queen Sofia, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and several prominent political leaders. Spain has invested heavily in its fast train network that now links the capital with seven major cities including Barcelona, Malaga and Valladolid along 1,599 kilometers (994 miles) of specially laid track. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood visited Spain in May 2009 to assess its fast rail network for possible use in the United States, the Associated Press reported. Spain's high-speed train system began operating in 1992 between Madrid and Seville in the southwest. By 2015 Spain aims to have 5,500 kilometers (3,418 miles) of high-speed tracks laid linking the country from northwestern La Coruna to southeastern Murcia and from Seville to northeastern Bilbao and San Sebastian. Eventually the high-speed rail network is expected to connect Portugal to Spain and France. An opening ceremony is to take place upon the train's arrival at Valencia's railway station.
