Renfe abandons the low-cost service between Barcelona and Madrid
AVLO trains will stop running between the two cities starting September 9.
BarcelonaChange of strategy on the high-speed corridor between Barcelona and Madrid, the main one in all of Spain. Renfe abandons the low cost After all the problems experienced by the Talgo trains operating this service, which forced the temporary suspension of service at the end of July, the railway operator will maintain the low-cost service on the remaining corridors served by the AVLOs, which connect Madrid with Andalusia and Galicia, despite operating on the same Talgo model.
Starting September 8, Renfe will once again offer all high-speed services between Barcelona and Madrid using AVE trains, which launched the service in 2008. According to Renfe, AVE trains "are better adapted to the characteristics of the route and the needs of the corporate traveler profile, which frequently requires a significant increase in space." Travelers who have purchased tickets for AVLO trains for later dates will be relocated to AVE trains.
In this new phase, Renfe will maintain the frequencies and schedules it offered with the AVLO trains connecting both capitals. However, the change will be accompanied by a corresponding price increase for AVE tickets compared to AVLO trains. In the first half of the year, the average price of Renfe AVLO trains between Barcelona and Madrid was €37.80, while AVE trains remained the most expensive at €61.90.