- 1. Low Cost AVE
Low Cost AVE
The new train, a Talgo 112 featuring a purple color scheme, has been unveiled at Renfe's workshops in Toledo and will begin operation on April 6, between Barcelona and Madrid. Tickets will go on sale in January. The route between Barcelona and Madrid is expected to soon include the rest of the AVE routes. This initial focus on Madrid and Barcelona is due to their high traffic and strong competition with air travel.
At the end of 2020, the rail sector will be liberalized in Spain, allowing new players such as the French SNCF and the Italian Trenitalia to enter in partnership with Air Nostrum. This competition will force prices to decrease.
In any case, it is still unclear how much of a reduction we might be talking about. The fact remains that the pricing for Renfe's low-cost AVE has not yet been announced.
Renfe's new low-cost trains, which are purple with colorful stripes at the front, will be tailored to a more varied traveler profile, as opposed to the traditional focus on business travelers and tourists. Renfe will also open new sales channels via an app.