Spain’s national rail carrier Renfe has announced that it will cease operations of its low-cost brand Avlo on the Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona high-speed line from September 8th, and will replace them with Ave services.
According to Renfe, it will keep “the same frequencies, schedules, and competitive prices” of the previous Avlo services but all the trains will be Ave.
The railway operator supports its decision by stating that Ave services “are better adapted to the characteristics of the route and the needs of the corporate traveller profile, a frequent visitor on this line, as they offer improved comfort, thanks to wider seats and a significant increase in space.”
There have also been doubts about whether Avlo’s Talgo 106 models are more prone to breakdowns on this line than Ave’s model 103 trains.
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Renfe is also attempting to dispel concerns about a possible ticket price increase arguing that it “will not significantly affect prices, as price variations between time slots are primarily due to schedules and existing demand.”
Renfe introduced its low-cost Avlo train services in 2021 as a result of deregulation of Spain’s rail network, which saw new budget rail companies Ouigo and Iryo start to offer services to passengers in Spain at a lower cost than Renfe.
Ouigo (from France) and Iryo (from Italy) both offer services between Madrid and Barcelona.
According to analysts, Renfe’s decision appears to be more commercially motivated, given the stiff competition it shares with Iryo and Ouigo on the Madrid-Barcelona line.
Customers who have already purchased Avlo tickets for dates after September 7th will be relocated to Ave trains and will maintain the same travel conditions, the operator announced in a statement on Thursday.
If passengers have purchased the seat selection supplement on these AVLO services, it will be fully refunded at no additional cost.
Renfe is committed to reintroducing additional services such as the cafeteria, onboard dining, and quiet seating on all its Ave services between Spain’s two main cities.
The company will enhance the travel experience with premium services , including access to club lounges and other dining options.
Avlo will continue to operate between Madrid and many Spanish cities such as Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, Seville, Gijón, Murcia, and Valladolid.
