Avlo, the 'low cost AVE', will arrive in April 2020
Maybe Avlo (RENFE's low cost AVE) is a demonstration of how Spain moves at two rhythms. On the one hand, those lands in which to transit at ease, like fish in water, between high-speed connections (and from April, at low cost, too); on the other, those destinations where the AVE is neither there nor is it expected (Galician, Extremadura, patience).
The long-awaited arrival of the AVE low cost service has just been announced. It is presumed that these cheaper fast trains "facilitate group travel, for families and young people, to attract traffic from travelers who currently use the road", as stated in the official RENFE press release.
A necessary call to sustainability that aims to become a reality from April 6, 2020 in the corridor Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona (as announced today by the acting Minister of Public Works, José Luis Ábalos) and, later and gradually, it will be implemented in new lines between 2020 and 2021.
Thus, Avlo's basic prices for the journey between Madrid and Barcelona will range between 10 and 60 euros, varying depending on the route and the advance of purchase. This price will allow the passenger to transport a cabin bag (maximum dimensions 55x35x25 centimeters) plus a handbag or backpack (maximum dimensions 27x36x25 centimeters).
From there, travelers will be able to hire additional services such as seat selection, changes or cancellations of tickets and extra baggage. In a subsequent phase, there will be the possibility of including other services such as Wi-Fi, the combination of Cercanías, pets, pre-reservation or Club Room . And it is that the tickets that will be marketed will be only for Tourist Class.
The price of tickets for children under 14 years of age will be 5 euros, provided that it is accompanied by the issuance of an adult ticket (with a maximum of two children per adult). For large families there are also discounts of 20% for those in the general category and 50% for large families in the special category.
AVLO, underlined the minister during the presentation, "represents RENFE's response to the more competitive environment that will emerge with liberalization within a year" and added that it is "a n modern product, adjusted to another type of demand , but that will respect the high quality service offered by RENFE in High Speed ".
AVLO VS AVE
In addition to the most competitive fares, the trains used for this service (of which they indicate that they will maintain Renfe's high-speed rates, "safety, reliability, punctuality and intermodality" ) , are the Talgo series 112 , which will be adapted and transformed for this new system. Thus, each train will house space for 438 passengers , namely, 20% more places compared to current 112 series trains (more passengers in the same space, for what, will they dispense with the cafeteria car?).
The official press release also indicates that, in the future, "the new trains of the 106 series , with an even greater capacity, of 581 seats per train ".
*Article initially published on 11.12.2019 and updated