Renfe is adding more trains and increasing frequencies to minimize the Avant service disruption.

BarcelonaFor months, users had been demanding action, and the Catalan government had promised to address the issue. Finally, this Thursday, Renfe announced that it will add more trains—more seats and more frequent service—to the Avant trains between Lleida, Tarragona, and Barcelona starting next week. These regulated-fare high-speed trains, used to connect major cities, had become an alternative, albeit a more expensive one, for most commuter rail users, given the constant chaos of Catalonia's conventional rail network. as NOW already explained

Starting next Monday, the Spanish operator will increase daily capacity by 1,134 seats, Monday through Friday, using high-capacity trains, representing a 50% increase in total service. The company explained that the trains being 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 efficiency compared to the 120 series trains currently used." 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, services will be reinforced at 7:05 a.m. with 105 additional seats, at 7:23 p.m. with 3 additional seats, at 6:05 p.m. with 343 additional seats, and at 9:30 p.m. with 343 additional seats. According to Renfe, this increased service was determined through a mobility study of the corridor, with the increased service being offered on some of the most requested routes to meet recurring travel needs. The company adds that these actions are part of a strategic plan to adapt the Avant service offering to demand.