Renfe is delighted to have competition in Madrid-Galicia. Especially since he knows that he will not have competition

The Galician corridor is being the great revelation of high speed in what we have been. Although at the end of 2024 its potential was already suggested, the hug at high speed is being so high that, it has even had its consequences in a lower demand for plane tickets.

Now, the government already paves the way for other companies to begin to exploit that market. Market that cannot be exploited.

“High potential” Are the words with which the government summarizes the possibility that the Renfe Monopoly in Madrid-Galicia. Until now, only this company is operating in one of the most successful runners in our country.

They explain in The voice of Galicia that Adif is finalizing the requirements that will be necessary to meet the operational approval. That is, with the green flag to operate in the Galician corridor that will be carried out through “multiannual framework agreements”, the same process that has allowed Iroyo and Ouigo to operate in the Spanish corridors who have already enabled the competition to Renfe.

Second phase. The presentation of this regulatory framework enters into the New phase that opens in liberalization of the Spanish high speed roads. Next to the Galician corridor, the open door will also be left to Renfe find competition in the Asturias/Cantabria corridor (which connect with Madrid and share space with the Galician) and the Huelva/Cádiz.

The process, they expect in the Government, will conclude at the end of 2026 and believe that it is of great interest to other companies since between 2019 and 2024, The train has already stolen 24% of passengers to the plane. From then on, the competition should arrive very soon.

Ought.

Yes, but. The problem for Renfe competitors is that the Galician corridor needs trains that can jump in track width. This is mandatory because between Madrid and Orense, trains use the international track width. But between Orense and Santiago, as well as the rest of the connections, such as Vigo, the Iberian width is used that It has different measures.

This particularity forces to use the Talgo S106, those same as They cracked on their way to Barcelona. These trains have been sold as the perfect solution since they can change from one width to another but Talgo and CAF have all their production sold For the next few years. And companies like Ouigo find no one who can give them these particular trains.

Solution 1. It is the one raised by the Popular Party that, according to The voice of Galicia, They are pressing the Government to adif the road and take, at least to Santiago, the international width beyond Ourense. This should help make the runner a more attractive place for new competitors. Adif, for the moment, discard this possibility.

Solution 2. That in the absence of trains, the new competitors rent the rolling material to Renfe. It is something that It has dropped from ouigo and? It has been totally rejected from Renfe. Right now, this last company has a perfect business in Madrid-Galicia because the road will be liberalized but they have all the trains present already short term that can work in that section.

What will happen? It remains to be seen if ouigo or any other competitor chooses to operate, at least, even Ourense. However, the attractiveness of this journey is much less because it stays at the gates of Galicia and does not enter to the heart. Nor is it an attractive option for all tourism attracted along the Camino de Santiago that could see on the train a very valid alternative to the plane to return to the capital.

Especially now that Santiago airport has drastically reduced its operations with the Ryanair output.

Photo | Xataka and Pablo Bretón

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