Train tickets between Barcelona and Madrid have shot up 40% this September after Renfe scrapped its budget Avlo service. The company insisted when it announced the cancellation that prices wouldn’t be affected, but data from ticket platform Trainline shows the reality is quite different. Average fares have jumped from around 60 euros to over 80 euros in just three weeks.
All three operators running the Barcelona-Madrid route have raised their prices. Renfe’s standard AVE service, along with competitors Ouigo and Iryo, have all taken advantage of the situation to bump up fares. The trend towards higher prices was already building over recent months, but it’s never been this steep. Meanwhile, the latest competition watchdog report detected a 15% increase in the second quarter of this year, pushing average tickets above 60 euros for the first time.
The flexible pricing system all companies use creates a massive range. You might find a Monday lunchtime journey for under 50 euros, but a Friday evening trip could cost over 150 euros. Right now, finding anything below that 80-euro average on a Sunday is basically impossible. Avlo had a 15% market share on the Barcelona-Madrid corridor, and those services have been replaced by pricier conventional AVE trains.
Pedro García from Trainline reckons if Renfe doesn’t fill the budget gap, other operators will step in eventually. However, travellers on other routes with low-cost options are still seeing fares drop. The Andalucía and Valencia corridors, which still have budget services running, continue to offer cheaper tickets.
For Barcelona residents who regularly travel to Madrid, the 40% price hike means significantly higher travel costs. The removal of Avlo has effectively eliminated the most affordable option, leaving passengers to navigate a market where all three operators have simultaneously raised prices.
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