iryo

An iryo high-speed train at the platform at Madrid Puerta de Atocha station

A fast, comfortable way to travel Spain by high-speed train 

iryo is one of the easiest ways to travel Spain by high-speed train, linking some of the country's most exciting cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Seville and Malaga on sleek modern trains that reach up to 300 km/h. You could have breakfast in one city and be wandering the streets of another a couple of hours later. 

iryo is Spain's first private high-speed operator and launched in late 2022. Its arrival brought more competition to the railways, which has helped lower fares and add more daily services, so travellers now have a wider choice of times and prices when planning a trip. iryo is run by a consortium of three transport companies: Italy's state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato, the Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum and the infrastructure operator Globalvia. 

Whether you're travelling for work or for the weekend, iryo offers a range of fares to suit different journeys and budgets, from the great-value Inicial to the more spacious Infinita. Book early for the best choice of fares and seats and you're set to see Spain the easy way. 

iryo routes

iryo connects Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Seville and Malaga with services running on the same high-speed lines network.  

Spanish cities served by iryo, including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza, Seville and Malaga

Here are the main routes and their fastest journey times:  

Barcelona Sants ⇄ Madrid Atocha 
Travel time: 3h 2m  
13 round trips a day 

Madrid Atocha ⇄ Valencia Joaquín Sorolla
Travel time:1h 54m  
8 round trips a day 

Madrid Atocha ⇄ Zaragoza 
Travel time:1h 35m  
8 round trips a day 

Madrid Atocha ⇄ Sevilla Santa Justa
Travel time: 2h 39m 
5 round trips a day 

Madrid Atocha ⇄ Malaga
Travel time:2h 59m 
5 round trips a day 

Barcelona Sants ⇄ Zaragoza
Travel time:1h 27m 
8 round trips a day 

iyro’s high-speed fleet

iryo runs its services on the Frecciarossa 1000 (also known as the ETR 1000), the same sleek high-speed train used by Trenitalia in Italy. It is one of the newest and most sustainable trains running in Europe: an aerodynamic design and energy-saving technology let it reach up to 300 km/h efficiently, and it runs almost silently. 

It is built for comfort as well as speed. The air conditioning fully refreshes the air inside each carriage every few minutes, and around 98% of the train's parts are recyclable. iryo runs on Spain's high-speed network, with a modern, spacious interior across every class. 

On the day of travel

Ticket control and identity checks take place before you reach the platform, so allow a little extra time. Boarding opens 30 minutes before departure and closes two minutes before the time shown on your ticket arrive in good time, as the gate won't reopen once it has closed.

Luggage

Every iryo fare includes a luggage allowance. There are three standard sizes: 

  • Hand luggage, up to 36 × 27 × 15 cm 

  • Cabin bag, up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm 

  • Large bag, up to 80 × 55 × 35 cm 

The large bag is included with higher fares. If your luggage is over your allowance, extra charges may apply. 

An iryo chart showing the luggage allowance for each fare

What you can bring 

  • Pushchairs: Must be folded and stored as directed by the train staff. A foldable pushchair is included with an infant ticket and doesn't count as an extra piece of luggage. 

  • Bicycles: Allowed only if dismantled, packed in a suitable bag or case and locked. A bicycle counts as one piece of luggage and must fit within the dimensions above. 

  • Scooters and electric bikes: Not permitted on board, whether motorless or electric. 

  • Skis: One pair of skis and equipment per traveller, carried in a proper ski bag. 

  • Golf clubs: One golf bag per traveller. 

  • Musical instruments: Allowed as long as they fit within the luggage dimensions above. Anything larger can't be brought on board. 

  • Boxes and electrical appliances: Not allowed. 


For safety reasons, items such as weapons, sharp objects, and flammable or explosive materials are not allowed on board. 

Lost or stolen luggage 

If you lose luggage, ADIF (which manages Spain's stations) has lost-property offices at the main stations. If you believe your luggage has been stolen, report it at the station police office for example at Madrid Atocha or Barcelona Sants or the nearest one. 

Booking iryo with Rail Europe

iryo tickets can be booked up to 360 days in advance, so booking early usually gives you a better choice of fares and seats. Search on Rail Europe to see and compare iryo alongside every other Spanish train operator in one place. You can compare fares, departure times and arrival times across all operators in a single search, then book the journey that suits you best all in one secure place. 

One thing worth knowing: tickets can't currently be exchanged online. If your plans change, the ticket has to be refunded and rebooked instead, subject to your fare's conditions.

Classes of services

Whichever fare you choose, every iryo journey comes with leather seats, generous legroom, USB and standard power sockets, tables designed for working or relaxing, and free Wi-Fi. Children up to three years old travel free. 

Inicial-class seating on board an iryo train

Inicial

A great travel experience at the most competitive price. 

  • Seat: Comfort 

  • Same-day changes: allowed for a fee, plus any fare difference 

  • Cancellation: non-refundable 

  • Luggage: one hand luggage item (36 × 27 × 15 cm) and one cabin suitcase (55 × 35 × 25 cm) 

Compare the fares

Feature /en-gb/ Condition

Inicial

Inicial Superior

Quiet Coach

Infinita

Infinita Bistró

Seat

Comfort

Comfort

Comfort, quiet area

Grand Comfort XL

Grand Comfort XL

Same-day time change

For a fee

Free

Free

Free

Free

Date change

For a fee

Pay fare difference

Pay fare difference

Pay fare difference

Pay fare difference

Change after missed train (within 2h)

Not available

For a fee

For a fee

For a fee

For a fee

Passenger name change

For a fee

For a fee

For a fee

For a fee

Included

Cancellation refund

Non-refundable

Refundable, conditions apply

Refundable, conditions apply

Refundable, conditions apply

Refundable, most generous

Seat selection

For a fee

For a fee

For a fee

For a fee

Included

Gastronomy

Pre-order

Pre-order

Pre-order

Pre-order

Included

Pets (under 10 kg)

For a fee

For a fee

Not available

For a fee

Included

Hand luggage (36 × 27 × 15 cm)

Included

Included

Included

Included

Included

Cabin suitcase (55 × 35 × 25 cm)

Included

Included

Included

Included

Included

Large suitcase (80 × 55 × 35 cm)

Not included

For a fee

For a fee

Included, reservation required

Included

Maximum number of items

2

3 (extra item for a fee)

3 (extra item for a fee)

3 (reservation required)

3

Oversized baggage

Fee applies

Fee applies

Fee applies

Fee applies

Fee applies

Changes and refunds can be made up to 30 minutes before departure.

Food and drink

Food and drink served on board an iryo train

Food and drink

Every class has access to the bar car, where you can buy snacks and drinks throughout your journey. iryo's menus are built around fresh ingredients and Spanish staples like cured ham sandwiches, olives with anchovies, tortilla de patata and patatas bravas, which you can pair with a glass of Spanish wine such as a Crianza or Roble. Full ingredients and allergen details are listed on the menu when you order. If you'd rather not leave your seat, a trolley with snacks and drinks passes through during the trip. 

Frequently asked questions

iryo tickets can be booked up to 360 days in advance, so booking early gives you the best choice of fares and seats.

Plan your Spanish adventure

From the beaches of Valencia to the streets of Seville, iryo's high-speed network makes exploring Spain fast, comfortable and easy. Compare fares and times, then book your seat with Rail Europe.  

Child and youth passengers

The definition of "Child" and "Youth" varies by country and operator. This is why we ask for the age of young passengers.

Sometimes children below a certain age can travel without a seat for free. If you want to guarantee a seat for child passengers, enter '6' as the age of the child.

Read more about child and youth passenger ages. See also youth discounts and railcards.