When Spain looked at Japan’s bullet trains and Britain’s high-speed Javelin trains it said, “I see you and raise you a quiver ...

Valencia's underground light rail system, the metro, tends to be more reliable than the buses. Line 4 is a popular above-ground tram, which heads from northwest Valencia to the seaside.

But in Spain they actually are. “From Madrid, you can get a two-hour train [...] to Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia, Sevilla - all for like 20 or 30 euros [£17-25].” “I’ve taken a fair few ...