He wants to leave atocha and Renfe only has the approval

The war for high speed is fought battle. Even with the smallest. Since Ouigo and Iro They will become part of the options that the new client has available in our country when getting on a long -distance and high speed train, Renfe quarrels They are repeated with an intermittence that already passes to recurring.

The last episode of this guerrilla war has a Atocha in the focus of the matter. The Madrid station has become Renfe’s great bastion when capturing customers who move towards Levante. The company operates with four trains to Valencia and four others with destination Alicante that leave from the central Madrid station.

The problem for Ouigo and Iro is that Renfe is alone. Both operators leave from Chamartín as a result of some expansion works of the station that banished all the journeys between Valencia and Alicante with Madrid north of the capital.

To all but four links offered by Renfe. The company managed to maintain the exit of four trains daily from the Atocha. A movement that was denounced by Ouigo when considering that the company was obtaining a competitive advantage. Now, the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) allows Renfe to expand the number of trips offered despite the fact that Adif fined previously for this reason.

In the background, the fight to operate at the busiest station in Madrid.

The fight to operate in Atocha

To understand everything that has happened you have to look at the past. In 2022 It was confirmed that all trips between Madrid and Valencia or Alicante would move to the Chamartín station to allow the Expansion works of the Atocha Station. The problem, it was said, is that with the new operators the station had no capacity to absorb all its demand.

The decision raised criticism among the politicians of Valencia and Alicante Because trips to Barcelona or Seville have remained in Atocha even though they also enter the south of the capital. Until 2028when the works are expected to finish, passengers have to add 10 more minutes of journey and go to a less central station in the city.

However, although Ouigo and Iroo had to displace all its operationsRenfe maintained four daily journeys between Madrid and Valencia from Atocha. Ouigo denounced that they got a competitive advantage to understand that the centrality of the station is an incentive against other options.

Finally, That complaint was filed But the CNMC did fined Adif with two sanctions that added 11,800 euros to understand that the process had not been transparent and that the transfer to Chamartín had not been communicated at the same time to the three operators so Renfe played with advantage, as they collect in Levant.

In spite of everything, the trips between Atocha and Valencia remained for Renfe and, now, he receives another back. The CNMC will allow Renfe to operate with four other daily trips between the Madrid and Alicante central station. A decision that for competition “It will not affect significantly” To its competitors although it confirms that Atocha attracts a greater number of travelers.

They explain, despite everything, that they only received the interest of Iro and Renfe to take the permission to take these holes that were now free.

Getting with the Atocha station is especially interesting for high -speed operators. Its centrality allows you to attract the Interest of a greater number of customers Potentials, especially in the center and the southern zone, Chamartín Front. Renfe can continue offering slightly faster paths (10 minutes) but, above all, it allows you to position yourself as the only alternative at the station, which can be especially interesting to other high -speed options Or even the plane.

Photo | Francesco Zivoli and Xataka

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