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Choose the city pair and approximate departure time. The tool highlights which operator wins on price, seat comfort, and station choice for that route.
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| Operator | Est. fare | Madrid station | Seat quality | Luggage |
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How to read results
- Madrid station matters: AVE and AVLO use Puerta de Atocha (Atocha), iryo uses the same, Ouigo uses Madrid Chamart铆n鈥揅lara Campoamor (Chamart铆n). If your hotel is closer to one, that's the cheapest "extra" value.
- Est. fare is a 2025/2026 reference fare for a Madrid鈥揃arcelona or comparable long corridor trip in basic economy booked 2+ weeks ahead. Last-minute fares can be 2鈥?脳 higher.
- Seat quality here refers to pitch (leg room), recline, and whether there's a caf茅 car. Ouigo's "XL" and Iryo's "Singular" are noticeably better than standard.
- Luggage: Ouigo's basic fare has no checked bag included 鈥?iryo and AVE include at least one piece. With a big suitcase, this swings the price comparison.
Limitations
- Real-time fares change hourly and by demand. The numbers shown are planning estimates 鈥?always check the operator's site at booking time.
- On some routes only 2 of the 4 operators run direct trains (e.g. Sevilla鈥揗谩laga is mostly AVE/Media Distancia, not high-speed).
- Iryo's Singular class sells out first; if you see it, book fast. Same for Ouigo's XL.
- Children's fares (4鈥?3) and family discounts differ across operators. Not modelled here.
- At煤n rojo strikes, weather-related delays, and ad-hoc works can cancel trains with 1鈥? hours notice. Plan transfers.
FAQ 鈥?Frequently asked questions
Is Iryo really cheaper than AVE? Usually yes on Madrid鈥揃arcelona and Madrid鈥揝evilla, where iryo started with undercut pricing. The gap has narrowed in 2025/26 but iryo's standard class is still typically 鈧?鈥撯偓15 cheaper than AVE Turista on the same train.
Can I use one ticket on all four operators? No. Tickets are operator-specific. There's no integrated pass covering Renfe + iryo + Ouigo.
What about the Renfe "Tarjeta Dorada" / multi-trip cards? Yes 鈥?Renfe's "Tarjeta Dorada" gives 40% off for over-60s, "Abono" monthly passes are valid for medium-distance Cercan铆as. iryo and Ouigo have no equivalent.
What if my train is cancelled? All four operators will re-book you on their own next train, or refund. Cross-operator compensation is not automatic.