The opbligatory nitpick:

such as a high-speed train connection from Barcelona to France built on unstable soil and unable to run at high speeds as a result;

Said problems hit the Madrid to Barcelona section. There was unstable soil problem at two points: near Zaragoza and on the descent to the Mediterranean, the former caused local speed restrictions the second extra costs and delay of the second (Lleida-Barcelona) section. But not running at high speed on the entire line was caused by betting on an untested new signalling system. But all of these problems were caused by sloppy to corrupt project granting by the Aznar government, as you say.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}