The deadly train crash in southern Spain has darkened one of the country’s proudest modern achievements.
The collision Sunday killed at least 40 people and injured dozens more, officials said Monday night.
Here is a snapshot of the rail system that became a crown jewel of contemporary Spain, by the numbers.
Spain launched its first high-speed AVE line, AVE means “bird” in Spanish, marking a turning point in national infrastructure.
Before and after that milestone, successive governments poured tax revenue and European Union development funds into the network, allowing Spain’s high-speed rail system to rapidly catch up with, and eventually surpass, early pioneers such as Japan and France.
