Renfe will launch its first high-speed service between Madrid Chamartín Clara Campoamor and Murcia on Sunday, December 10. With the addition of this service, the region will then have five daily AVE trains in each direction.
Tickets for this ‘low cost’ high-speed train are available from just €7. Although the Avlo will take fifteen minutes longer to complete the journey than the AVE, with a total journey time of more than three and a half hours, it offers competitive fares. Children under 14 travelling with an adult will pay only 5€. The Avlo departs from Chamartín at 6.15 am and from Murcia at 10.32 am.
Competition with French Ouigo
The Spanish railway company is thus ahead of the French Ouigo, which has also received approval from Adif to start a ‘low cost’ train between Murcia and Madrid next spring.
One year of high-speed line
Avlo’s arrival almost coincides with the first anniversary of the high-speed line, officially opened on December 19, 2022, with passenger services starting the following day. Since then, four trains have run daily in each direction between Murcia and Madrid.
Increase in the number of trains
With the introduction of Avlo, the number of daily trains between Murcia and Madrid will increase to ten, five in each direction. This means an offer of 5,000 seats per week.
Customisable tickets and family discounts
Tickets go on sale from this Monday. The basic price of €7 can be supplemented with additional services, such as seat selection, changes, cancellations and extra luggage. A carry-on bag and a handbag are included free of charge. Large families get discounts of 20% for general category and 50% for special category.
From December 10, AVE trains to and from Murcia will change their timetable, both on departure and arrival, including intermediate stops.
Responses from regional government
Marcos Ortuño, spokesman for the regional government, expressed dissatisfaction that “the government of Spain has given us a second-class AVE” and stressed that the region continues to strive to improve train services. José Manuel Pancorbo, Minister of Public Works, sees the addition of a cheaper train to Madrid as positive, but notes that the Avlo will take more than three and a half hours, “the same time as the Alvia”.
Also read: Three Spanish airports soon connected with AVE high speed train
