Traveling on a high-speed train in Spain is becoming easier and cheaper since the liberalization of railways by ADIF. It is the only country in Europe with three companies competing on the main rail corridors. Ouigo and Iryo have positioned themselves as Avlo’s competitors, known as Renfe’s cheap AVE. They allow you to travel, depending on the company and the route, from just 9 euros, that is, some are cheaper than medium-distance trains, for example. As is the case with the plane, imports will be increased by additional baggage or other extras.
Among the advantages, we offer flexible fares with greater ease to change tickets, even for free with your basic rate on the same day or for a small cost for other dates. Also for cancellations or changes of owner. On the other hand, they promote promotions on a regular basis with routes at lower prices than normal rates, and even personalized offers for regular users. These are their cheapest prices on open routes and those that are going to start operating.
Iryo: tickets from 18 euros
Iryo offers 250,000 tickets to travel to Andalusia for only 18 euros.rober solsona
This ‘low cost’ railway company is part of a consortium made up of the shareholders of the Spanish airline Air Nostrum and the railway company Trenitalia. It offers affordable prices on journeys with advantages such as free and unlimited WiFi, power outlets, toilets, and an in-flight entertainment portal to watch movies and TV series.
Basic tickets start at 18 euros for their journeys, depending on the day and time. It has been operating from Madrid to Barcelona since November 2022 and later cities such as Zaragoza, Alicante, Valencia have been added… In the coming months, its trains will link Cuenca and Albacete with Madrid, as well as Barcelona and Tarragona. In addition, Antequera (Málaga) and the connection with Alicante and Albacete will arrive on June 2.
But the great news is that it has become the first private high-speed operator to reach Andalusia. Until March 26, he has a promotion active for his arrival in Andalusia through which he has put up to 250,000 flexible tickets for sale for 18 euros to travel to this destination on any date in 2023.
The routes will begin to be carried out on March 31, and apart from the initial promotion, the prices available on the website with origin and destination in the capital of Spain are the following:
Madrid – Córdoba: from 35 euros Madrid – Seville: 47.50 euros Madrid – Málaga: 60 euros
Ouigo: from 9 euros
Ouigo will sell its tickets between Madrid and Alicante before Easter. Europe Press
This company belonging to the French group SNFC arrived in Spain in May 2021, with a route that connects Madrid, Zaragoza, Barcelona and Tarragona. In 2022, they added Madrid – Valencia to their offer. From the beginning, one of its promises is to put tickets on sale from 9 euros. It will be in 2024 when he arrives in Andalusia. In addition, large families also have special discounts, up to 20% for the general category and 50% for special ones.
Some of its convoys have two heights (Heaven and Earth), an interior cafeteria, spacious seats and on-board entertainment services. And they have also incorporated changing rooms for babies and breastfeeding in their trains. Given the appearance of Iryo on the market, from March 1 we are temporarily offering 1.7 million tickets at 9 euros to travel between July 11 and December 9, 2023.
Madrid-Valencia: from nine euros.Barcelona-Madrid: from nine euros.Zaragoza-Barcelona: from nine euros.Madrid-Tarragona: from 19 euros.
In addition, Ouigo is already prepared to launch the Madrid-Albacete-Alicante route, also from 9 euros. This March 28, the company will announce the start date of operations and will open ticket sales. It will operate two daily round-trip frequencies (four journeys).
Avlo Renfe: from 7 euros
Renfe AVLOCONTACTO via Europa Press
Renfe’s economic option to the AVE is AVLO, it opened in 2021. In this case, the trains do not have a cafeteria, but vending machines. The single-class ticket allows you to add additional baggage for 9 euros or change or cancel the ticket for 8 euros, as well as select a seat, change or cancel and additional baggage. The base price includes a free cabin suitcase and a handbag.
It is also expanding its routes and on March 27, its trains will compete with those of Ouigo between Alicante and Madrid, with stops in Villena, Albacete and Cuenca. As a promotional price, tickets have gone on sale from 7 euros.
In addition, the Minister of Transport, Raquel Sánchez Jiménez, has confirmed that Avlo will be the second high-speed brand to arrive in Andalusia, specifically in Seville and Malaga. They will launch a travel offer for 7 euros, which can be purchased from mid-April to travel from the first half of June 2023.