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Date Published: 02/06/2023

High-speed rail operator Iryo launches low cost Alicante-Madrid link for the summer

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The Spanish operator has become the third to operate a speedy connection between Spain's capital and the Costa Blanca

High-speed rail operator Iryo launches low cost Alicante-Madrid link for the summer

High-speed train operator Iryo has become the latest rail company to connect Alicante with Madrid as the battle to entice train travellers heats up on the Costa Blanca.

From Friday June 2, the Spanish railway operator owned by Air Nostrum, Globalvia and Trenitalia, will link the two cities with four daily low-fare journeys (two outward and two return) which add to the eight trips currently offered by Avlo (Renfe's brand) and Ouigo (Spanish subsidiary of the French SNCF Voyageurs).

Iryo offers a first departure from Alicante at 12.25pm, arriving at Madrid's Chamartín station at 2.50pm. A second train departs at 7.35pm and gets into the capital at 10.02pm. In the opposite direction, there are two Chamartín departures; 7.45am and 3.45pm, arriving in Alicante at 10.10am and 6.10pm respectively.

Taking into account Avlo and Ouigo's low-cost offerings, a staggered high-speed service is now available to travellers.

Avlo, which launched its service in March, operates two routes in the Madrid direction at 11.45am and 9pm with arrivals scheduled at 2.05pm and 11.35pm, as well as a departure from Chamartín station at 7am, arriving at the Alicante terminal at 9.32am, and another at 5pm, arriving in the Costa Blanca capital at 7.20pm.

Ouigo launched its service at the end of April with departures from Alicante at 2pm and 4pm, arriving at the Chamartín terminal at 4.23pm and 6.21pm respectively. And, in the opposite direction, departures from Madrid are at 10.15am and 12.51pm with arrivals in Alicante at 12.35pm and 3.11pm.

However, these three simultaneous options for travelling between the capital cities will only be available in high season.

Iryo will offer a daily service with a single intermediate stop in Albacete until September 15, and then schedule trains only on Fridays and weekends:

Fridays: Departure from Alicante at 8.10pm arriving in Madrid at 10.30pm. Return trip leaves at 4.45pm arriving in Alicante at 7.13pm.
Saturdays: Alicante departure at 11.23am with arrival in Chamartín at 1.53pm. Madrid to Alicante (7.10am-10.10am arrival).
Sundays: Alicante departure at 8.10pm with arrival in Madrid at 10.35pm. Madrid to Alicante (4.45pm-7.13pm arrival).

Tickets cost between 18 and 35 euros.

In other news: Three Brits arrested for trafficking cannabis from the Costa Blanca to Ireland by post

Image: Iryo

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