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Ever wondered what a high-speed train is like from the cab, or how in the world the drivers can make decisions so quickly when reaching speeds of 300 km/h? Even though the high-speed realm is relatively new to Malaga (see previous post), its inner workings are getting a workover throughout Europe. A new system is being implemented in stages to decrease reliance on and eventually eliminate track-side signals, and since this means less driver interaction, it will allow for increased speeds. When you’re going 300 km/h, you don’t have time to see a signal outside, react and make a 300-ton train slow down before reaching a switch or station. The new system with an impressive acronym (ERTMS - European Railway Traffic Management System) uses GSM-R radio signals to pull data from track sensors and communicate train positioning, velocity, braking guides and other stats to the driver and control centres. You can read more about ERTMS from the Union of the European Railway Industries, who even has videos showing this technology’s guts in a very simple manner.

Ave high-speed trains are using at least level-1 ERTMS, including those coming into Malaga. Signalling will be discussed in the next World Conference on High-Speed Sign System, which will be held in Malaga, interestingly enough. According to the Spanish government, this congress will bring together rail operators, infrastructure managers, and service providers from around the world.

The new terminal, officially inaugurated last December, received its first traffic last week with the landing of MSC Orchestra and Costa Serena cruise liners, both Italian. The station is capable of handling 5 cruise ships and about 5,000 passengers a day. Last year almost 300,000 cruise passengers came through Malaga. Authorities project this figure to be at 370,000 this year and to double within the next five years. Since the new terminal boasts Malaga port’s first facilities for handling customs and baggage, port and city leaders are hoping travellers will appreciate the modern facilities and feel welcomed, increasing tourism and boosting the local economy. Undoubtedly this includes the hope that major hitters in the cruise line industry (read: Royal Caribbean and Carnival) will sign up Malaga as one of their stops, or better yet, their final destination.

Malaga Port - official page
Malaga Port - Economic Interest Group

Wondering how many more lines you’ll have to wait in, just to be told you’re in the wrong government office? Passing the buck or not understanding questions besides in Spanish are common barriers when applying for residency, jobs, or other numerous proceedings that take place in every day life for a foreigner living in Spain. Considering how many foreigners are here, advice should be easier to come by (from Rajoy’s talk on social matters in last night’s debate):

In the year 2007, over 725,000 [foreigners entered Spain], also more than France, the United Kingdom and Germany combined. We are the second nation in the world, only exceeded by the United States, when it comes to entering foreign citizens.

The Malaga Town Hall inaugurated a new telephone service last week (Teléfono del Inmigrante) to hopefully alleviate that helpless feeling, where you can speak with lawyers who specialise in immigration matters in English, French or Spanish. They will provide information related to the type of documents and steps needed for accomplishing what you need to, whether or not you’re a member of the European Community. They can also aid those who conduct business with foreigners, those who want to hire foreign residents and students, and other matters.

Dialling 010 (from outside Malaga – 902.210.250) from 9 am - 7 pm, M-F will connect you to an answering service, which will then connect you with the cell phone of one of the two lawyers. Note that this line is also the general information number for the City of Malaga - find out what else this number provides from malaga.eu.

The need for this was stirred up months ago by immigration associations, and according to the City’s representative Julio Andrade, it is a pioneer service in Andalucía. It will also prompt the opening of a municipal office for aiding immigrants, possibly in March. On a side note, the United Left political party has requested the closing of the Centro de Internamiento de Extranjeros ("Centre for Admission of Foreigners") because it is in "conditions not fit for human occupation." Oh well, one’s going up and the other coming down - is that progress?

According to Fecoma, Malaga’s commercial federation, the Malaga province will soon be welcoming 7 new large shopping centres and the expansion of 5 existing centres, whose space will be approximately doubled. Among the whistles in the wind for new stores are well-known consumer electronics competitors Media Markt and Fnac. German-based Media Markt is Europe’s largest electronics retailer, and is expected to add an installation in the Vialia mall. Two French companies, Fnac and Jardiland (gardening and do-it-yourself), would possibly be located respectively in Malaga Plaza (or the port) and Plaza Mayor.

How will they expand those establishments located in Malaga’s city centre? Without actually stepping on neighbouring property, the options seem to be building upwards or opening prohibitively small premises. One such centre is Vialia, otherwise known as Estación María Zambrano, the Renfe, or just the train station. This centre has other problems to deal with before opening the door to new business, especially the ongoing fight of the city against Vialia retailers who open illegally on Sundays and holidays. Businesses such as Media Markt will also have to face some city administrators who don’t want to make the traffic situation worse, as would definitely happen in a large-scale expansion project.

Trains, trains… with the new high-speed AVE and Avant links in Barcelona and Sevilla, word about them has been around the mill a lot recently. But this tidbit is about Malaga’s regional train, Cercanías, which currently runs between Malaga centre and Fuengirola. Plans have been unveiled for expansion of this line to reach Estepona, with the new stretch stopping in hotspots like Marbella and 13 others along the Costa del Sol. The project is a joint planning effort between the Andalucian and national government, and has a completion date set at 2011. It will be presented in multiple stages, with several groups performing the engineering studies and construction. Included in the challenges are a 4 km, twin-track underground tunnel between Las Lagunas and La Cala de Mijas (Fuengirola area), and making the existing tracks compatible with high-performance engines reaching top speeds of 200 km/h. This last task has caused a split in logistics and two possible options:

1. Improvement of the existing line, including widening of the track beds and allowing for simultaneous Cercanías and mid- to long-range traffic. This has been the more popular option so far.
2. Construction of a completely new stretch between Malaga and Fuengirola. This would share part of the Cordoba high-speed line, cross through the Malaga airport, and go through Sierra de Mijas to meet with the remainder of the Fuengirola-Estepona track. To this end, Aena has even reserved a tunnel for this hypothetical section under the airport in its expansion plans for the new runway and terminal.

Looking for alternatives to the puddle-jumper plane connections or slower regional trains? Renfe is expanding services offered in and out of Malaga by leaps and bounds, especially in regards to newer high-speed trains. December marked a large milestone with the introduction of the AVE link to Madrid, slashing the trip time and price considerably from previous offerings. This connection was largely due to the completion of the high-speed-approved section between Malaga and Cordoba.

Now, the offering has been expanded to include Barcelona and Sevilla in the high-speed range, service on both to start tomorrow. To give you an idea of the time savings, the Barcelona voyage used to take over half a day (13 ½ hours), and the Sevilla trip about 2 ½ hours. Conventional trains will still run to Sevilla alongside the new alta velocidad Avant service.

It’ll still be a while - between 2009 and 2010 before seeing the end to this project. But drivers in Andalucia will surely appreciate the change provided by this new stretch of toll roadway, construction to begin in a week. The need has shown itself repeatedly for improvement, since this section between Alto de las Pedrizas and Puerto de la Torre becomes congested quickly at peak times, especially during the summer months. For those unfamiliar with the area, it affects about 25 km of the principal route between Malaga and Antequera, with intermediate destinations of Casabermeja and Almogía. The new motorway will have wide curves plus long tunnels and bridges to allay the steep shifts in geography of the present A-45.

The project’s cost, upwards of 360 million euros, is projected to be recovered by the toll over a period of 40 years. Average toll for the entire route will be 1.80€, with some variation depending on the season and vehicle type. Planners hope this price tag will be offset by the convenience offered to motorists, since the 120 km/h limit will allow them to complete the trajectory in about 15 minutes.

José Antonio Domínguez Banderas was born 10th August, 1960 in Benalmadena, Malaga.

At first he wanted to be a footballer, but he broke his left leg when he was 14.

Some years later he went to Madrid to make a career in the Spanish film industry, where he started to work as an actor in small theaters.

He has a very large filmography; here’s just a few highlights:

- The Mask of Zorro

- The Mariachi sequels

- Interview with the Vampire

- Assassins

- Evita

- Take the Lead

- The Shrek sequels (Puss in Boots voice)

- Philadelphia

Without any doubt, Pablo Ruiz Picasso is the most popular painter in Spain and also one of the most recognized in the world. Picasso and Georges Braque created the cubism art movement.

He was born on October 25th, 1881 in Malaga and died April 8th, 1973 in Mougins, France. His last words were “Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink any more.” He was having dinner with some friends at home.

Curiously, his birth name was: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Clito Ruiz y Picasso.

See some of his main paintings in this video: