Spain recently expanded its high-speed rail network from Madrid to Barcelona, making a 342-mile trip take just about 2.5 hours. Some California rail advocates are keeping a close eye on such projects as they strive to create a high-speed connection between SF and LA — which is coincidentally, according to distance calculators, and at least as the crow flies, also about 342 miles.

Since we’re not planning to ride the AVE, or Alta Velocidad Española, anytime soon, we just took a virtual trip on YouTube:

But our local state Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) is taking it a step further — apparently trying AVE out for herself this week. She’s spending her spring break with some fellow legislators on a trip to Spain sponsored by the California Foundation on the Environment and Economy.