Traveling from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid in just over an hour is possible. By plane, of course. The problem is that this travel time is not realistic and that is why the train does not stop gaining adherents in the Galicia-Madrid corridor. Better offer, more comfort and a clear winner: Renfe.
More travelers. Specifically 181,588 travelers. Those are the ones who collect The Galician mailhave been mounted on one of Renfe’s trains during the first month in which the company has fully had its high -speed trains, with the entire full hourly offer.
The figure is spectacular when compared to the plane. In that same month, airlines have set up 155,715 people aboard their vehicles. It is a historical milestone for a means of transport where the train has always been behind the plane.
Looking back. In the Gallego newspaper they explain that evolution has been spectacular. The first works that would end up leading to the current high -speed line began in 2011. Then, only 20,000 travelers opted for the train to move along this line. Today the figure is above 180,000 passengers.
Although over the years the train has been stealing passengers, as I reduced travel times, the plane was still the preferred means of transport. In 2019, Renfe moved between 40,000 and 60,000 passengers but air traffic continued to exceed 200,000 passengers.
Those times have been left behind.
Making the plane back. The opening of high speed has caused A clear traveler transfer to the train. Since last year, Galicia and Madrid are united by high speed. And although arrived late and there was controversy With its trains (including an incomprehensible break with the entrance of the new year), Renfe has added more and more passengers.
To the point that the train has the most complete offer of schedules. The airlines have been canceling routes and operating with smaller airplanes because they cannot compete in price or times. Yes, it takes more train but it leaves from the center of the Galician cities and you reach Chamartín, a well connected station in the financial nucleus of Madrid. As if that were not enough, The train is cheaper.
Less offer in the air. Collect in The Galician mail which is easy to track to what extent the train is going back to the plane. Galician airports are suffering Partial output of Ryanairwhich has abandoned some routes as a pressure measure before what They consider abusive rates by Aena and against the fine imposed by the Government Retailing hand luggage.
But it’s just another example. Although Air Europa does maintain its current offer with 56 weekly flights adding Vigo and A Coruña, Air Nostrum is operating with smaller airplanes to dimension the offer to the new reality.
A reef. The result is great for Renfe that has found a trench in front of the competition. In recent weeks the rumor had run that Ouigo was trying to get trains To operate that line. Or, even, it was said that Renfe could rent rolling material.
The latter has been totally discarded by its president who has assured that “whoever wants to come (to the Galician corridor), to invest.” The key is that the line needs to operate with specific trains that can change from Iberian wide to international width. However, Talgo has all its compromised production And he has no space to serve Renfe rivals, at least, before this decade ends.
Good numbers. Although the information surrounding Renfe turns in recent times around the problems in their trains, the truth is that the company is receiving good news in recent days. According to your own data, the first semester of 2025 He has broken his own record in the travel of travelers.
This record is not understood without the great growth in the trips of the Galician corridor. Its high -speed trains to Galicia destination and those dedicated to the Extremaduran corridor High speed trips have fired. In both cases, Renfe does not have to compete with ouigo or Iro that yes They have forced him to lower prices and have stolen customers in the Catalan, Valencian and Andalusian corridor.
Photo | Eric Salard and by Bene riobó
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