Iberia limits prices on the Barcelona-Madrid route, and Ouigo and Iryo adapt their service.
The airline is setting a price cap of 99 euros per trip until February 19, and train companies are extending routes and modifying schedules.
BarcelonaSlow service, delays, and maintenance work on the Barcelona-Madrid high-speed rail line have led to a surge in alternative transportation options, prompting train companies like Renfe, Iryo, and Ouigo to adjust their schedules. Iberia has capped fares for flights between Barcelona and Madrid at €99, a route whose demand has increased due to the recent high-speed rail disruptions. This is the maximum fare for economy class until February 19th. The airline continues to offer its "flexible" and "comfort" air shuttle fares, designed for frequent travelers who require greater flexibility and additional services. Iberia also reminds passengers that it operates up to fourteen daily flights in each direction on the Madrid-Barcelona route, covering all time slots from 6:45 a.m. to 9:35 p.m.
Iryo, one of Renfe's competitors on the Barcelona-Madrid line, has implemented an alternative transport plan (PAT) in coordination with Adif, which will initially run from Thursday, February 5th to Saturday, February 7th. During this period, two services will be cancelled: the trains that usually depart at 4:37 PM from Madrid and 8:45 AM from Barcelona. Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked on other services or, if they prefer, can cancel their trip and receive a full refund.
The route is also lengthened by 25 minutes, reaching over 3 hours, with a stop in Zaragoza, due to diagnostic and maintenance work on the railway infrastructure. These forecasts will be updated depending on the progress of the work, and any changes that may occur once this period is over will be communicated, reports Iryo.
On Ouigo, another of Renfe's competitors, departures from Madrid are brought forward by between 30 and 60 minutes, while those from Barcelona remain unchanged, reports SER. Renfe announced on Monday that it would stop operating the Barcelona-Madrid service after 8:00 PM.
Commuter Rail Buses
On Tuesday, the Catalan government approved allocating €4.1 million to pay for the 230 extra buses it has deployed to reinforce road transport in response to disruptions on the commuter rail network. The executive council approved the emergency contracting of these services, carried out by the Department of Territory, Housing, and Ecological Transition. The additional buses will follow, in whole or in part, the routes of the commuter rail network, and flexibility is planned to redistribute vehicles according to actual demand and the needs of each area. These buses are in addition to those offered by Renfe in its alternative transport plans for routes where there is no train service.