Iryo, the private high‑speed rail operator owned by Trenitalia, Air Nostrum and Globalvia, is set to launch a new transverse link between Barcelona and Seville starting December 10. The service expands Iryo’s network, linking Catalonia with Andalusia on a route designed for both business and leisure travelers seeking comfort and speed.
Operating four daily frequencies, two making the outbound journey and two returning, the route will run seven days a week with stops in Zaragoza, Madrid within a tight 20‑minute window, and Córdoba. For a portion of the year, from June 15 to September 14, 2024, one of the daily frequencies will also pause in Tarragona, broadening the scope of regional connectivity during the peak travel season.
Annual capacity on this corridor totals 673,060 seats, with the journey time estimated at about five hours and fifty minutes, according to the operator. Ticket availability is already open on Iryo’s official website, inviting travelers to reserve seats as plans take shape for this new cross‑peninsula connection.
From Barcelona, departures are scheduled at 09:50 and 13:45, reaching Seville at 15:36 and 19:39 respectively. Return trips from Seville to Barcelona are planned for departures at 06:54 and 16:20, with arrival times at 12:45 and 22:10. The timetable aims to provide predictable, convenient options for late‑morning and early‑afternoon trips, aligning with daily routines and weekend getaways alike.
Simone Gorini, CEO of Iryo, expressed optimism about the new link, noting that the Barcelona–Seville corridor strengthens the case for rail as a sustainable mobility option. The expansion is framed as part of a broader strategy to encourage passenger shift from air to rail for both business obligations and personal travel, supporting lower emissions and improved urban mobility across Spain’s major regions. Discussions around this route emphasize reliability, comfort, and the benefits of shorter city‑center access and seamless onward connections for travelers moving between the country’s two largest metropolitan areas and their surrounding provinces. The project also highlights ongoing collaborations among national rail operators and infrastructure partners, underscoring a shared commitment to expanding high‑speed rail coverage in the Iberian Peninsula. In practice, travelers can expect modern train sets, onboard services designed for longer journeys, and a travel experience aimed at minimizing journey time while maximizing convenience and connectivity across key hub cities.