Madrileños own a large proportion of holiday homes on the Costa del Sol, a proportion that could be as high as 40% in pretty coastal towns such as Mijas just to the west of Málaga. Sadly they have traditionally only enjoyed one dose of sunshine per year in the month of August when Madrid turns into a ghost town, businesses shut up shop and they migrate south like swallows. The reason for this is the grueling 1,100km 12-hour round trip by car. At other times throughout the year Mediterranean cities such as Valencia have been a better mini-break prospect via a less punishing seven-hour 700km round-trip. But, thanks to the brand new high speed AVE train connection (Alta Velocidad Española), the Madrileños will be able to see a lot more of their Costa del Sol homes.
Inaugurated on 23 December 2007, the Madrid-Málaga AVE floats along at speeds of up to 350km and covers the distance between the cities in just two and half hours. Adam Gale, Director of Duchy Estates, comments, “Whilst it’s fair to say that Spaniards are creatures of habit and the ‘August-escape’
Spanish rail company RENFE agrees. In the first year of service they expect 1,650,000 people to use the AVE Málaga service and by 2009 a total of two million, double the number carried by the previous Talgo 200 service. Civil Aviation has said that they expect airline passenger numbers between Madrid and Málaga to reduce by 40% because of the AVE. Both Vueling and Spanair have already cut back on their services between the two cities in direct response to the cost-effective train service which is currently priced at 76 euros for a single fare but can be secured for as low as 30 euros if booked online in advance.
In a policy which will seem alien to British people used to the United Kingdom’s less than perfect rail service, the AVE also puts its money where its mouth is on timekeeping. RENFE is currently refunding half the ticket price for delays of as little as 15 minutes and the full price if the train is delayed by more than half an hour. Once the service is fully tested and minor glitches ironed out, refunds will be made in full if the train arrives more than 5 minutes late, this is common policy for established AVE routes. With immaculate service like this maybe some Costa del Sol dwellers will be lured off their sunloungers to nose around the Prado Museum or the 80,000-capacity Bernabéu.
Contact Duchy Estates on spain@duchyspain.com, visit www.duchyestates.co.uk or telephone UK freephone 0800 849 8089 or call the Spanish office on 00 34 952 906 944.
