Is Renfe owned by the state?

Is Renfe owned by the state? The model which is organised under the State-Owned Company Renfe-Operadora (Renfe-Operator) as the owner of 100% of the shares of the five new companies and which, as the parent company, is responsible for defining the group's business policy and strategy, and for seeking efficient management focused on corporate and ...

Is Renfe owned by the government?

Renfe Operadora is a state-owned company, attached to the Ministry of Public Works and its mission is to provide passenger and freight transport services, guided by the principles of safety, quality, efficiency, profitability and innovation, with a public service vocation and pursuing an increase in the market share ...

What is the train scandal in Spain?

The controversy surrounding the size of trains designed for the Asturias and Cantabria tracks that are incompatible with the narrow gauge tunnels has forced the resignation of the president of train operator Renfe, Isaías Táboas, as well as the current Secretary of State for Transport, Isabel Pardo de Vera.

What is the difference between Iryo and Renfe?

Renfe's AVE trains offer a premium experience with a wide range of destinations, while OUIGO Spain provides affordable prices and a straightforward ticketing system. The new kid on the block, Iryo Trains, provides a luxury experience with a focus on sustainability.

Why are Renfe tickets so expensive?

All railway operators in Spain have a dynamic ticketing system, so fares change constantly. Renfe only offers a limited number of tickets with promotional prices. So when these tickets are sold, only the most expensive fares remain. The same applies for the other operators (Avlo, OUIGO and iryo).

Who owns Renfe trains?

Most passenger trains are managed by Renfe, Spain's state-owned company whose acronym stands for Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles. Spain has a network of almost 16,000 km (around 10,000 mi) of railways.

Does Renfe make a profit?

Spanish operator Renfe expects to end the 2023 financial year with a profit before taxes of 98 million euros, president Isaías Táboas said on Thursday, adding that there has been a steep increase in the share of energy costs in the company's operating expenses.

Why is Spanish high speed rail so cheap?

“Competition between state-owned train company Trenitalia and privately owned Italo on the main high-speed line has driven up quality and passenger numbers, but pushed down prices by between 20 and 25 per cent,” he explains. “It's to the benefit of everyone except domestic airlines.”

Can you choose seats on Renfe?

The Seat Selection add-on allows you to choose the seat in which you will travel. Travel with your most loyal friend for just €10 more.

Are you allowed to eat on Renfe trains?

You can enjoy food and drinks during breakfast, morning snack, lunch, evening snack or dinner, depending on the journey and the time slot in which you travel. On short journeys, we offer you a small snack, consisting of a drink and something to munch on. Lunch and dinner include a starter, main course and dessert.

Is Renfe included in Interrail?

Trains in Spain are not bookable via interrail.eu, but Interrail is valid in trains of RENFE (except AVLO and EVO). You can call RENFE call center and buy via phone the reservation and collect them at ticket machines in Spain.

Are trains in Spain privately owned?

Who operates trains in Spain? The deregulation of the railway sector has led to the different operators gaining access to the Spanish railway network. After decades of monopoly, the state-owned company Renfe Operadora competes with several private operators.

Is Trainline cheaper than Renfe?

Trainline is the official reseller of Renfe and Avlo, the brands of Spain's national railway company, OUIGO and iryo as well. So you all have ALL the options in just one place. Trainline sells train tickets for the same price as the Spanish carriers.

Do you need a Passport for Renfe trains?

Renfe-SNCF security checks We recommend you have your ID card or passport handy for passport control. If you're European, your identity card is sufficient. If you're a non-European citizen, you'll need to travel with your passport. Baggage checks are carried out at all Spanish stations before boarding the train.

Which trains in Spain will be free?

The scheme was announced in July 2022 by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who said that all Cercanías (commuter train), Rodalies (commuter routes in Catalonia) and Media Distancia routes (mid-distance regional lines, covering journeys of less than 300km) run by the national rail operator Renfe will be free of ...

Are Spanish trains Subsidised?

Spain introduced the free train subscription scheme in September 2022 in response to the increase in energy prices due to the war in Ukraine and the elevated costs of living.

What trains do Renfe use?

Are Renfe trains free in Spain?

First, the free tickets are only available on Renfe-operated commuter trains (Cercanías and Rodalies) and medium-distance train journeys under 300 kilometers, or 186 miles. It does not apply to Renfe's high-speed AVE trains that connect destinations like Madrid and Barcelona.