Spain’s high-speed rail system was once firmly under the control of the state-owned RENFE. This monopoly resulted in relatively high prices for consumers. However, with the liberalization of the rail market, new competitors have entered the scene, drastically altering the pricing landscape. The introduction of companies like Ouigo (a low-cost subsidiary of France’s SNCF) or Iryo has sparked fierce competition, making all operators to reduce prices significantly to remain attractive to travelers.
In this article, we will explain the differences between the four operators, enabling you to make an informed choice for your upcoming trip to Spain. This will allow you to visit multiple cities using the train as your primary mode of transportation at very affordable prices.
Table of Contents
Iryo
Inyo is partially owned by Trenitalia and operates routes with the Frecciarossa 1000. One of the company’s strengths is that despite having low-cost prices, they focus on providing a more premium service. Even the cheapest second-class tickets allow changes and cancellations with a fee. The company also offers trains in code-sharing with Air Europa flights.
Inyo operates routes from Madrid to Barcelona with stops in Zaragoza and Tarragona, from Madrid to Seville and Malaga with stops in Cordoba, Madrid to Alicante with stops in Albacete and from Madrid to Valencia with stops in Cuenca.
Of the four high-speed operators, we can say that Inyo offers the best value for money.
If you travel with Inyo, you can use one of these fare types:
- Inicial: second-class fare.
- Singular: first-class fare.
- Singular Only YOU: same fare as Singular, but it includes access to their VIP lounge at the Only YOU Hotel Atocha in Madrid and the Nobu Hotel in Barcelona.
- Infinita Bistró: first-class fare that includes a buffet of food and drinks on the train like a business clas flight.
Here are some examples of the prices on IRYO’s routes:
- Madrid to Valencia at €9
- Madrid to Malaga at €21
- Madrid to Barcelona at €18
- Madrid to Sevilla at €22
OUIGO
OUIGO is the low-cost subsidiary of SNCF, the French state-owned train operator. They were the first operator to commence operations in Spain following the liberalization of the rail network. They utilize TGV Duplex trains.
Ouigo operates routes from Madrid to Barcelona with stops in Zaragoza and Tarragona, Madrid to Alicante with a stop in Albacete, from Madrid to Valencia with a stop in Cuenca and the new route from Madrid to Valladolid with a stop in Segovia.
If you travel with OUIGO, you can use one of these fare types:
- OUIGO ESSENTIAL: This is the cheapest option, but you have to pay surcharges, similar to when you fly with Ryanair. You can bring a small backpack and one carry-on, but if you want to bring an extra suitcase, you have to pay €5 per item. If you want to choose the upper or lower part of the train, it’s an additional €3. Opting for a comfortable seat will cost an extra €5, and using the onboard entertainment will require an additional €3. If you want to have a flexible ticket, it’s another €7. However, we recommend checking the terms and conditions for this option.
- OUIGO PLUS: For €9 extra from ESSENTIAL you get one extra suitcase, seat selection and onboard entertainment.
- OUIGO FULL: Similar to the PLUS option, this includes two suitcases, along with the flexibility of a refundable ticket (100% refund in the form of a voucher and 80% refunded to your original method of payment).
Here are some examples of the prices on OUIGO’s routes:
- Madrid to Valencia at €9
- Madrid to Alicante at €9
- Madrid to Barcelona at €9
- Madrid to Zaragoza at €9
To find the cheapest prices on OUIGO, you need to visit the website, enter the origin and destination, and then the calendar will display the best options, you can find tickets from Madrid to Valencia or Barcelona starting at €9:
AVLO
AVLO is the low-cost subsidiary of RENFE, the Spanish state-owned train operator. In response to Ouigo, the name “AVLO” stands for “Alta Velocidad Low Cost” (High-speed low cost). They offer a no-frills version of Renfe with cheaper prices for travel.
AVLO operates the same routes as Iryo and OUIGO, but they also have routes going all the way north to Girona & Figueres, where you can visit the Dali Museum, or to Murcia in the south of Spain. However, at the moment, they don’t operate routes to north-eastern Spain (Galicia and Asturias).
Like OUIGO, they only have one class of carriage, and you can expect a lot of surcharges similar to a low-cost flight, such as €8 for a “flexible ticket,” starting at €5 for seat selection, and €10 per suitcase. However, you can book a ticket in advance from Madrid to Barcelona for just €7.
Here are some examples of price with AVLO:
- Madrid to Valencia at €7
- Madrid to Alicante at €7
- Madrid to Barcelona at €7
- Madrid to Malaga at €7
RENFE
RENFE is the Spanish state-owned railway company that has been operating high-speed trains in Spain since 1992. Their prices were exorbitant until the liberalization, but with the introduction of the AVE (the Spanish TGV/ICE), they began to offer more competitive deals. In addition to the AVE, they operate the Avant and Alvia trains, which are faster than a regular intercity train but slower than a high-speed train.
For those residing outside of Spain, RENFE offers a train pass called Renfe Spain Pass, providing options for 4 trips during one month for €195 up to 10 trips for €390.
RENFE has two classes on their high speed trains: Turista (second class) and Preferente (first class). Some wagons are advertised as silent wagons, but the reality is that Spaniards won’t respect this as much, so I would use noise-cancelling headphones for this silent wagon.
If you want to travel to Galicia or Asturias using high speed trains, they are the only option, and most of the time, a plane ticket is cheaper. However, sometimes they have sales, and you can get tickets for €25.
Here are some examples of the prices on RENFE’s routes:
- Madrid to Barcelona at €23
- Madrid to Ourense at €25
- Madrid to Oviedo at €25
- Madrid to Granada at €34
Comparing Prices with Omio
Having four operators in the country, it is advisable to use meta-searches like Omio to check the departure times and prices of each train company. Omio also provides information on the prices of ALSA’s long-distance buses, but unless there is a significant price difference, buses may not be the best option. Additionally, you can also view flights on Omio to compare.
You should be aware that Omio charges a commission for issuing these train journeys, which you can avoid by buying directly from the train company.
Conclusion
Taking into account the number of options available for traveling by high speed train in Spain, it is important to consider what suits your needs best. If you require a specific schedule, you can always opt for the cheaper company. However, if you have the flexibility to choose, I would first lean towards Iryo for its premium service and then towards RENFE for the range of schedules.
It’s always advisable to check the prices for first class, as in some cases the price difference is minimal. In the case of Iryo, for just €10 more, you have access to a gastronomic buffet. Among the other companies, OUIGO and Avlo are essentially the same thing with a different label. If you travel with minimal luggage and don’t have to pay extras, they are a good budget-friendly option.
Cover Picture: © Nico Ruge on Unsplash