Renfe will end Avlo operations on the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed corridor, replacing the low-cost offering with its standard AVE service from 8 September.
The withdrawal affects five Avlo S106 units that had been assigned exclusively to this axis. According to Renfe, frequencies and schedules will remain unchanged, and passengers with existing Avlo bookings will be accommodated on AVE trains under the same travel conditions. The operator also stated it would continue to offer competitive pricing despite the shift.
The technical issue was first identified on 21 July during a scheduled inspection, when maintenance teams found a crack in a bogie frame on one of the Avlo Avril trains, El Pais reports. Though the chassis was replaced and inspections extended to the remaining units, Renfe has now opted to operate the route solely with AVE rolling stock. The company cited alignment with the demands of corporate travellers and service consistency as contributing factors in the decision.
The route is Spain’s busiest high-speed corridor, with 8.2 million passengers in 2024 and an average ticket price of EUR 53.2 per journey. That compares to EUR 29.1 on Madrid–Valencia and EUR 47.91 on Madrid–Seville, according to data from the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC).
Renfe held a 60.1% market share on the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed corridor in 2024, split between AVE (47.9%) and Avlo (12.2%). Iryo and Ouigo followed with 23.7% and 16.2%, respectively. CNMC data for Q1 2025 showed Ouigo had the lowest average fare on the corridor at EUR 36.5, followed by Avlo at EUR 37.8, Iryo at EUR 40.3, and AVE at EUR 61.9.
Renfe said the AVE service would introduce full onboard services previously not available on Avlo, including catering, a quiet carriage, and access to club lounges. The company also said it would refund seat selection fees already paid by Avlo passengers transferred to AVE.
The Talgo Avril units used on Avlo’s service had entered regular operation just over a year ago. Their deployment followed multiple delays and technical adjustments. The situation is likely to be addressed in the upcoming parliamentary session, where the Minister of Transport will speak on broader issues in the railway sector.
