This affordable AVE service between Malaga and Madrid already carries a history and is set to begin its inaugural journey on March 31, 2023. Since then, private operator iryo has moved forward with selling tickets, already connecting the two cities through Renfe, while introducing a price-focused travel option that attracts riders with lower fares.
Iryo will launch the route with twice-daily departures, priced at €34.28.
Frequency
The Malaga line opens up a real economic opportunity for residents and travelers alike, offering private high-speed trains from the Malaga Maria Zambrano station. The service operates two daily departures from Madrid Puerta de Atocha to Malaga Maria Zambrano, with one train leaving at 07:55 and arriving at 10:30 (approximately 2 hours 21 minutes) and another at 14:55 arriving around 17:30 (about 2 hours 35 minutes).
Pricing
The cheapest Madrid to Malaga fare starts at €34.28, while the reverse direction sits at about €43.75. Iryo is positioned to compete with Renfe and Ouigo in Spain’s high-speed network, targeting a strong ridership growth through 2025.
Deployment from Madrid to Andalusia is expected to reach current milestones by the end of March 2023, with plans for the Madrid to Alicante corridor following later, anticipated mid-year.
What it will be like to travel with Iryo
Additional supplements can be selected during ticket purchase.
Iryo permits traveling with a pet, subject to rules: the animal must weigh no more than 10 kg and travel in a carrier measuring up to 60x35x35 cm. An extra charge of €10 is added to the ticket for bringing a pet.
Passengers can also add optional extras such as the market menu featuring seasonal and local produce, or assorted sweet and savory options. The market menu is priced at €12.00, while the sweet or savory additions are €5.00.
There is also a Green supplement from €2.39, a voluntary charge that accounts for the carbon footprint of the journey.