Iryo will begin operating this Friday, deploying high-speed trains on the Madrid to Barcelona corridor and becoming the third operator in Spain alongside Ouigo and Renfe. The three companies will run on both the AVE mainline and the budget Avlo service, expanding a liberalized market that Adif is piloting. Spain stands out in Europe for hosting three distinct operators on its core rail routes.
The debut sees the Iryo service joining five other daily trains on the Madrid–Barcelona path. The first Iryo service will depart Madrid’s Atocha station at 06:45 and reach Barcelona around 09:15, with subsequent departures throughout the day. On average, a half dozen additional trains will traverse the same link, delivering travel times slightly under three hours per trip.
In total, 24 Renfe trains across AVE and Avlo operations will cover this route on Friday, along with five Ouigo runs. The day’s schedule accommodates a capacity for about 13,500 passengers in each direction, though frequencies may increase on other days as demand grows and operators adjust to passenger flows.
After this initial rollout, Iryo will expand its network by starting Madrid–Valencia services on 16 December and then linking Madrid with Sevilla, Málaga, Antequera, and Córdoba by 31 March next year. A Madrid–Alicante service is planned to begin on 2 June, marking a broader footprint for the new entrant.
Ownership of Iryo reflects a multinational structure: Trenitalia, the Italian public operator, holds 45% of the shares; Air Nostrum controls 31%; and Globalvía owns 24%. Trenitalia is state-owned through Italy’s Ministry of Economy, while Air Nostrum serves as a Valencia-based airline with strong regional financial ties. Globalvía is backed by pension funds from Canada, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Although Iryo’s operational headquarters are in Madrid, the network’s radial design means Valencia serves as the company’s registered office and financial hub, a role that has brought the region substantial economic contributions, including salaries and tax receipts tied to regional operations.
Train features and passenger experience
The Iryo fleet currently consists of 20 Frecciarossa electric units, designed to deliver flexible pricing through four distinct tariff families that align with different traveler needs. The in-service experience also includes a curated dining offer with selections labeled Infinite, Singular Only You, Singular, and Initial. The Haizea branding identifies the Iryo product line.
Inside each car, passengers will find power outlets at every seat, USB ports, and free Wi-Fi with high-speed coverage. The trains can accommodate roughly 460 travelers, balancing comfort with high-capacity performance on crowded routes.
From a sustainability perspective, the trains rely on a high percentage of recyclable materials and operate with a 100% renewable energy supply. Estimated emissions savings reach about 80% per passenger per trip, a figure that highlights a stronger environmental stance for high-speed rail in the country. To attract riders, Iryo has introduced promotional offers and pricing strategies designed to move more people onto faster, cleaner transport.