Starting next November, the High-Speed rail network will have a new operator in Spain, the private company Iryo, participated by Air Nostrum and Trentalia. The premiere will take place on November 25 with the first connections between Madrid, Barcelona, and Zaragoza. A few weeks later, on December 16, Iryo will begin operating between Madrid, Valencia, and Cuenca and, in the first quarter of 2023, the connection with the south will reach the cities of Seville, Malaga, and Cordoba. In June of next year, it will be the turn of Alicante and Albacete, the last cities to join the Iryo network.
The company plans to operate 30% of the High-Speed frequencies in Spain and aims to transport 8 million passengers between Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, Valencia, Alicante, and Zaragoza at the start of its operation. To serve the entire network, it will create around 2,600 direct and indirect jobs.
The arrival of Iryo takes place within the framework of the liberalization of high-speed rail in the State, dictated by European Union regulations, which kicked off at the end of 2020. With this, the operator becomes the third to offer this route, along with Renfe (AVE) and Ouigo.
The company has designed a "flexible" fare system for all types of changes, according to its managers, starting from 18 euros per journey to link the capitals of Barcelona and Madrid, with 32 daily frequencies --16 outbound and 16 return---, meaning there would be a trip every hour. Tickets can be purchased starting this Sunday, September 18, through Iryo's official website, which, as announced, will launch an initial campaign with very advantageous promotional rates for the first customers.
On November 25, coinciding with the first day of operation, Iryo will launch a mobile app and a points-based loyalty program that can also be used with other partner companies of the operator --Meliá Hotels, Air Europa, Hoteles Only You---.
Also deepening its collaboration with other companies, Iryo has emphasized its commitment to integrated mobility and has announced its first major agreements with companies in the tourism and transport sector to offer combined tickets and travel experiences. In this commitment, in the cities where it operates, it will offer free access to Cercanías trains with Iryo tickets. It has also announced the first code-sharing agreement with Air Europa, through which it will offer train and plane combinations.
Iryo's fleet consists of 20 Frecciarossa model trains. These are latest-generation electric units from Hitachi Rail-Alstom Group, in which it has invested 800 million euros. They have been manufactured with 95% recyclable materials. Powered by 100% renewable energy, which limits CO2 emissions per passenger-kilometer to 28 grams, according to company data.