Ouigo expands its low‑cost high‑speed route to Madrid, Alicante and Valencia
The forthcoming low‑cost high‑speed service from Ouigo is nearing its launch window. The company will begin ticket sales on June 30, with fares starting at 9 euros for journeys linking Madrid with Alicante and Valencia. Industry insiders anticipate that the wider schedule for the remaining lines in the Community will be announced on the same day, though the completion of a tunnel connection will largely determine the exact opening of Chamartín with Atocha. Whether the service will operate from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha by that date remains contingent on infrastructure readiness.
Rail sector sources indicate that Ouigo plans to operate trains between Madrid, Valencia and Alicante after the summer season, though a sooner start is possible if all conditions are met and approvals are secured.
A media briefing was held to outline the upcoming deployment. Executives including Hélène Valenzuela, managing director of Ouigo Spain, and Federico Pareja, director of commercial and marketing, presented the proposal for the Valencian Community and outlined the anticipated start of operations. Ticket sales are scheduled to open on June 30.
Ouigo delays the launch of the low‑cost high‑speed line from Alicante to Madrid until 2022
Why is Chamartín the only starting point?
At present, Ouigo trains are restricted to operating from Madrid‑Chamartín to the Valencian Community. The company explains that the current limitation is linked to the signaling and safety systems used on different segments of the corridor. The lines to the Community rely on a European standard called ERTMS, while the section from Madrid‑Puerta de Atocha toward Valencia and Alicante uses a separate Spanish safety framework (LZB). This mix makes direct departures from Atocha impractical at the moment.
To enable Ouigo to operate along the entire corridor, the infrastructure must support the tunnel connecting Chamartín to Puerta de Atocha and be fitted with ERTMS. The tunnel is finished, yet some supporting work around it continues as the operation awaits formal authorization from the State Railways Safety Agency. Training for drivers on the Valencia route has begun, but completions in this segment will require additional certification and homologation of the trains in the tunnel.
For these reasons, a firm operational date for the tunnel remains undecided. Adif has stated that efforts are progressing as quickly as possible with AESF and other sector participants to bring Valencia service online soon. The broader aim is to deliver the benefits of liberalization—such as the demonstrated fare reductions on the Madrid‑Barcelona corridor, new service profiles, and the potential for greater transport decarbonisation—across the network.
[Source: rail industry briefings and corporate communications about the Valencia corridor, with ongoing updates from regulatory authorities and the operator.]