The spanish comission of infraestructure gathered yesterday and we no know the plans for the spanish train network. given the high price oil one would guess it should be first page.. je jeejj keep dreaming. Still, this is why it is so important: oil price moves to food price inflation if food transport is made using roads.

Nevertheless

http://www.lavanguardia.es/lv24h/20080605/53475150160.html  

gives a good report (and quite long.. but not front-page)

I am really sorry I do not have time to translate it since it is very interesting.

But the main points are:

-First, huge investment in fast train lines, actually speeding up with the construction projects under way reaching 1200 km more in 4 years. Plus getting ready to do more in the future.

-Investment to keep the conventional lines running with security and electrical updates/upgrades.

-Null spetial investment in new "mercancias" (commodities) line, those who are purely for the transport of goods. Conventional lines which are no longer used due to the fast train lines will be adapted. So, the part of the investment dedicated to conventional lines going paralel to fast-train lines is considered a "mercancias" investment sicne noone else is going to use it (I repeat here the report)

-Important promises regarding the investment of the local rail network in Madrid in barcelona.. thoguh there is no specific plan yet.. where's the money? The only standing promise is the number of trains to buy which has been fixed (or looks like that in the article)...

Probably this comment deserves a diary on its own but I have a bunch of paper work and papers to submit....really sorry

I hope the other spaniards fill the blanks.

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude