What is the alternative to Renfe?

Spain's high-speed lines have been opened up to competition. Renfe now has a lo-cost brand called Avlo, and competitor operators Iryo & Ouigo now operate on key routes including Barcelona-Madrid, Madrid-Valencia, Madrid-Cordoba/Seville/Malaga. See the Barcelona-Madrid page for a run down of these 3 operators.



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Avlo, Iryo, Ouigo... Renfe now has a lo-cost brand called Avlo, and competitor operators Iryo & Ouigo now operate on key routes including Barcelona-Madrid, Madrid-Valencia, Madrid-Cordoba/Seville/Malaga. See the Barcelona-Madrid page for a run down of these 3 operators.

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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.

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Your destination, travel goals, and budget will all play a role in making the right decision. 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.

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So exactly what is AVE? The AVE is a commercial passenger rail transport service provided by Renfe, using trains that can travel at 300 km/h, with a cafeteria and restaurant service and different spaces of comfort.

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Renfe is the primary operator of trains in Spain. It runs the impressive AVE service, which connects Spain's major cities at speeds of up to 310km/h (193 mph). Renfe also runs various other train services in Spain, such as regional trains, the Trenhotel service and suburban Cercanías services.

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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. It does add a small booking fee.

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  • The Transcantabrico Train. ...
  • La Robla Express. ...
  • Galicia's tourist trains. ...
  • Tren dels Llacs. ...
  • The Al Andalus. ...
  • Campos de Castilla Train. ...
  • The Cervantes Train. ...
  • Philip II Train.


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OUIGO is a low-cost rail service company established in 2013 as part of the SNCF group. Unlike the TGV INOUI service, OUIGO trains only have one class, which is equivalent to second-class travel. This is why OUIGO tickets are so cheap - from €10 for adults (depending on the destination) and €5 for children.

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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).

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Reserving point-to-point tickets in advance (available up to 60 days ahead of travel) is the best way to save money and to guarantee a seat on your preferred train. Furthermore, many areas of Spain aren't well served by its train system — for many trips, buses and even flights may be a better option.

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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.

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There are many reasons to love the Transcantabrico, one of Spain's top train journeys. With its elegant cars and luxurious amenities, the Transcantabrico, a popular tourist train in northern Spain, is like a 5-star hotel on wheels. For many, it's the perfect way to see some of Spain's most beautiful and varied scenery.

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Spanish trains don't operate on a normal booking horizon, although most trains open around 60 days in advance. This is when you'll find the cheapest tickets. We always recommend booking as far in advance as possible to get the cheapest Spanish train tickets.

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If you don't want to see ads interspersed with journey results, your best bet is either Railboard or TrainPal. The Trainline app mixes in banner ads with its results. TrainPal will show you offers and promotions, but we wouldn't consider these adverts, and they're certainly not mixed in with the journey results!

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Travel during peak travel periods will usually see you paying more as there is more demand for tickets. For that reason, the best days to buy tickets are generally in the middle of the week between Tuesday and Thursday, the former considered the best of all by several sources.

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This means that with the Básico (Basic) ticket you will always enjoy a standard seat, and with the Prémium (Premium) option you will always enjoy a comfort seat, while with the Elige (Pick & Mix) option, you choose whether you want a standard seat or a comfort seat.

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