AVE is the Spanish high-speed railway service connecting Madrid and Barcelona.
The Madrid–Barcelona high-speed rail line links Spain’s capital with Barcelona in Catalonia. The route opened progressively, with the complete connection reaching Barcelona in 2008. AVE trains use Spain’s high-speed network and provide a fast alternative to air travel between the two major cities.
AVE is a service brand operated by Renfe, Spain’s national passenger railway company. The acronym officially comes from Alta Velocidad Española, meaning “Spanish High Speed.” It is also a Spanish word meaning “bird,” which gives the brand a memorable double association.
AVE should not be confused with Alvia or Avant. Those are separate Renfe service categories, generally designed for different combinations of high-speed and conventional routes or shorter-distance journeys. The Madrid–Barcelona corridor is one of Spain’s best-known AVE routes.