Renfe is changing the trains to offer more seats and minimize the overcrowding of the Avant trains.

BarcelonaFor months, users had been demanding action, and the Catalan government had assured them it would address the issue. Finally, this Thursday, Renfe announced that it will replace some of the trains offering Avant services to provide more daily seats between Lleida, Tarragona, and Barcelona starting next week. These regulated-fare high-speed trains, used to connect major cities, have become an alternative, albeit a more expensive one, for most commuter rail users, given the constant chaos of the conventional Catalan rail network. as NOW already explainedBut demand has increased so much that the service was also on the verge of collapse.

Thus, starting next Monday, the Spanish operator will increase daily capacity by 1,134 seats, Monday to Friday, using high-capacity trains, and assures that this will represent a 50% increase in total service. The company explained that the trains to be added are from the 106 series (High-Speed ​​High-Capacity) and will offer 581 seats on each journey, "incorporating substantial improvements in accessibility and energy optimization compared to the 120 series rolling stock currently used."

This is precisely the solution that the railway sector of CCOO had put on the table"Just seven months later, [our proposal] is beginning to become a reality," the union stated, emphasizing that the measure brings high-speed rail closer to the working class. "Once the proposal is fully implemented, it will benefit 14 million passengers. The number of seats offered will increase to 14,100,000 compared to the current 3,340,000," they pointed out. Currently, Renfe operates eight daily services between Lleida, Tarragona, and Barcelona, ​​and the increased service has been established as follows: on the Lleida-Barcelona route, the 7:05 a.m. service will be reinforced with 105 additional seats, the 7:23 p.m. service with 3 additional seats, the 6:05 p.m. service with 343 additional seats, and the 9:30 p.m. service with 343 additional seats. According to Renfe, this increased service was determined through a mobility study of the corridor, resulting in higher service on some of the most requested routes, with the aim of meeting recurring travel needs. The company adds that these actions are part of a strategic plan to adapt the Avant service to demand.