The big wigs at the Spanish rail service have hit the turbo on the train between Madrid and Barcelona, according to Damian Corrigan of About.com’s Spain Travel. The high-speed rail has jumped from a top speed of 300 km per hour to 350.

For travelers, that means the 2 hours and 40 minute trip to 2 hours 25.

But what’s 15 minutes in Spain? A lifetime.

Having spent a little time in Spain, nothing ever seems to go as planned and little is done in an American’s fast paced lifestyle. Fast food there means sitting down at midnight and waiting 30 minutes for a waitress just to acknowledge you’ve even arrived.

Saving 15 minutes in Spain is the equivalent to saving .001 cents on the exchange rate.

But you’ve got to give it to the people who’s ancestors decimated Central and South America’s civilizations thousands of years old with small pox and other diseases. (Winning an actual war would have required something of a plan, while breathing on them was certainly the easy way to go.)

Now, we’re not saying go to Spain. We love it there and would much rather spend a week in Spain than a week on the campus of Liberty College. The people are friendly, the sites incredible and the Sherry a delight. We just don’t see what the big deal is saving a few minutes on a train that is already going pretty fast.

But if you do want to go, and you need to buy a few train tickets, we do recommend using the high speed rail. It’s fast, comfortable and for short trips like the 600 km ride from Madrid to Barcelona, nearly perfect. Flying would take nearly as long once you check in and board.

Check out Spain’s high speed rail here.

Reserve a ticket here.

Look at its interactive map here.

Viva la High Speed Rail.

Related posts:

1. Steep discounts on Canadian Rail: Urine smell still free
2. Going to Spain? Maybe you only thought you were
3. Canceled: Bullfighting in Barcelona
4. Six days in Madrid for $499
5. See England at 140 mph

Tags: about.com, high-speed rail, Spain