Biglietti ferroviari iryo

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. 

Hop on Iryo’s high-speed trains from Madrid, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Valencia, Cuenca, Alicante, Cordoba, Malaga, Seville, Tarragona, Albacete and Antequera for a quick, comfortable ride. As this is a new provider, having only made its first journey in late 2022, expect more cities and more frequent services to become available as iyro becomes more established.

Barcelona Sants 👈👉 Madrid Atocha

• ⌚ Travel time: 2h30

• 🧳 16 round-trips a day

Madrid Atocha 👈👉 Valencia Joachim

• ⌚ Travel time: 1h55

• 🧳 6 round-trips a day

Madrid Atocha 👈👉 Zaragoza

• ⌚ Travel time: 1h15

• 🧳 8 round-trips a day

Madrid Atocha 👈👉 Sevilla S Lucia

• ⌚ Travel time: 2h35

• 🧳 5 round-trips a day

Madrid Atocha 👈👉 Malaga

• ⌚ Travel time: 2h35

• 🧳 5 round-trips a day

Barcelona Sants 👈👉 Zaragoza

• ⌚ Travel time: 1h30

• 🧳 8 round-trips a day

The iryo trains operate along the same physical rail system used by Renfe and Ouigo, but the physical train itself differs. iyro runs its service aboard the sleek Frecciarossa 1000, the same model used by Trenitalia and is the fastest, most modern, and most sustainable train in all of Europe.

This arrival of iryo marked Spain as the first European country with three different high-speed rail operators. Thanks to more competition in the market, prices across all competitors have decreased. This ensures that travellers in Spain have plenty of options when it comes to companies to choose from, competitive pricing and flexible schedules.

Renfe’s AVE and Avlo service

AVE

AVE, which stands for Alta Velocidad Española or Spanish high speed, conveniently named after the Spanish word for bird, is the high-speed train service operated by Spain’s national train operator, Renfe. AVE offers similar amentities and travel times as iryo, yet Renfe reaches far more destinations than iryo currently does, including destinations in France. The modern AVE trains include different classes of service fit for all budgets.

AVLO

In response to cheaper options entering the Spanish train market, Renfe launched its high-speed, lower-cost option: AVLO. The main route offered by AVLO is Madrid <> Barcelona with convenient stops, such as Zarragoza and Tarragona, along the way. Expect comfortable travel, but fewer amenities than those offered on AVE trains.

Alvia

Alvia trains run on both the high-speed and mid- to low-speed routes, reaching those off-the-beaten-path destinations in Spain that are absolutely worth a visit. Alvia trains often have more stops and longer train rides, which offers the advantage of having more time to soak up the beautiful scenery along the journey.

Ouigo Spain

The French-owned low-cost carrier in Spain is Ouigo España. This no-frills provider has very basic amenities, thus allowing them to often offer the cheapest price for train tickets in Spain. For those looking for a frill or two, there are limited seats that are larger with more space for travellers, but these often fill up quickly.

Both Ouigo Spain and iryo currently only serve major cities on high-speed lines. If you wish to visit one of the many incredible cities and towns not reached by these two providers, Renfe, Spain’s national train provider, has you covered.

Ticket control and passport checks will occur before passengers board their train. Boarding begins half an hour before the train departs from the station. Please ensure you arrive on time, as boarding closes 2 minutes before the departure time stated on your ticket.

All passengers can bring one small personal item (36 × 27 × 15 cm) and one cabin‑size bag (55 × 35 × 25 cm) at no extra cost. When travelling with iryo, expect for luggage to be checked at the boarding gate to ensure everything fits within your fare’s allowance. Depending on your ticket, you may also bring a large suitcase.

If your bags are too big or you bring more than your fare allows, a €40 surcharge applies on the spot, and only one extra suitcase per person can be accepted. Make sure your bags are labelled and stowed correctly: large suitcases in the racks between carriages, cabin bags on the overhead shelf and your personal item under the seat in front of you.

For for information on baggage allowance, see the class-specific details below.

Iyro tickets are available for booking 250 days in advance. When booking train travels across Spain, use Rail Europe's to see and compare all journeys offered by all of the Spanish train operators all in one search. This allows you to optimise your budget and departure and arrival times, all in one convenient, secure location.