Renfe will add two weekly services on the Madrid-Vigo route until October 12, with 14,200 additional seats, to meet high summer demand. The earlier departure of the first train from Chamartín on Sundays and the new departure from Urzáiz on Saturdays improve connectivity.
Renfe has announced an increase in seats on the high-speed line between Madrid and Vigo for summer weekends. The public operator will add two new weekly services until October 12, resulting in 14,200 extra seats throughout the summer season. This measure responds to the increased demand recorded on this corridor, which has established itself as one of the most profitable for the company.
More trains and extended schedules
The main novelty is the earlier departure from the capital on Sundays. The AVE 4475, which leaves from Chamartín at 8:26 am, will now operate daily. Conversely, the AVE 4254 that departs from Urzáiz at 1:37 pm will also run on Saturdays, joining the Avlo and the other AVE services that are already daily. This will result in 54 services and 28,400 weekly seats between Madrid and Vigo.
This increase is made possible by the improved reliability of the Avril trains, the only ones capable of running at 300 km/h on Iberian gauge tracks. Last week, Renfe announced it would double the number of trains that can reach the Atlantic Axis, paving the way for increased frequencies and destinations from Vigo. For travellers from the Community of Madrid, this means greater flexibility when planning getaways to Galicia, especially during long weekends and summer holidays.
Over 320,000 seats this summer
In total, Renfe will offer more than 320,000 seats for this corridor during the summer, consolidating its strength against air travel. Iberia has been reducing its offer between Peinador and Barajas, transferring point-to-point traffic to Air Europa and the railway. The Galician route has become a high-value market for Renfe as it faces no competition from Ouigo and Iryo, and offers much lower costs per seat than flying.
Of the 8.9 million seats that the company will offer across all its commercial services (AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, and International AVE), around 935,000 seats will be in Galicia, with 90% corresponding to the corridor to Madrid. The rest focuses on the Catalan Alvia, the longest passenger route in Spain, and corridors like Málaga and Sevilla, with around 635,000 and 552,000 seats respectively. For residents of Madrid, the connection to Vigo is crucial: the Galician capital is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations from Madrid, and the reinforcement will allow locals to travel more comfortably and at more competitive prices.
Discounts for young people and public service
The public operator emphasizes its unifying role thanks to nearly 13 million seats in Avant and Media Distancia, as well as being the only company that connects small towns with large cities. Among the main attractions for choosing rail this summer is the fourth edition of the Young Summer programme, recently approved by the Council of Ministers and Congress. Young people aged 18 to 30 will enjoy discounts of up to 50% on AVE and Avlo for any journey within the national territory.
For users in the Community of Madrid, who make up the largest number of travellers on this route, the reinforcement presents an opportunity to plan weekend trips to Galicia with greater availability of seats and more flexible schedules. Tickets are already on sale on the Renfe website and at ticket offices, with prices starting from 18 euros in the Avlo category. It is recommended to book in advance, especially for weekends in August, which tend to have higher occupancy.
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