During Holy Week, from March 31 to April 11, Renfe carried more than 2.3 million travelers across its network. The journey mix included AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, and Media Distancia services, reflecting strong demand across high-speed, long-distance, and regional trains. This volume stands at 7.4% more tickets sold than the same holiday period in 2019, the last pre-pandemic Easter, signaling a sustained rebound in rail travel.
Compared with Easter 2022, ticket sales rose by 16.4 percent, a gain highlighted in Renfe’s official statement released this week. The data underscores a resilient preference for rail during the spring holiday season, with travelers choosing a mix of fast, comfortable options and regional routes to reach cultural and family destinations across the country.
Demand peaked on Monday, April 10, a holiday across several autonomous communities and the culmination of the Easter return operation. This day marked the highest occupancy levels as travelers resumed normal work and school routines after the long weekend, demonstrating the coordinated effect of holiday scheduling and service frequency on passenger flows.
The Madrid to Barcelona corridor remained the most sought-after route in Renfe’s commercial network, a busy stretch that also reflects the combination of the Spanish capital with key regional hubs such as Andalusia and the Levante region. This pattern highlights how travelers blend metropolitan centers with regional centers to reach leisure, business, and family plans during Holy Week.
Renfe’s fleet for Holy Week included AVE high-speed services along with Avlo, Euromed and Intercity trains. In addition to these long-distance options, medium-distance services and regional trains provided essential connectivity across the network. Avant and Regional services served as complementary options, weaving together major corridors with smaller towns to structure travel throughout the country and support last-mile access to popular destinations.
Beyond the core rail offerings, the period also featured notable competition and choices among travel modes. Passengers traveling between Madrid and destinations such as Valladolid and Toledo often considered faster Avant connections. On the other hand, Catalonia, Galicia, and Levante corridors emerged as particularly active, with regional and long-distance services carrying the heaviest passenger loads as families and workers moved across autonomous communities to celebrate and return home after the holidays.
Rail travelers during Holy Week benefited from a broad timetable, flexible seating options, and a focus on comfort and punctuality across Renfe’s diverse roster. The operator’s emphasis on maintaining high-capacity trains and reliable schedules helped accommodate the surge in demand while preserving the quality of service that riders expect for long journeys and quick hops alike. As travelers look ahead, Renfe’s network appears well positioned to absorb seasonal peaks and to support future holiday periods with scalable capacity and optimized routing. Citation: Renfe press release on Holy Week travel statistics and service mix.