Ouigo starts, the 'low cost' train that will compete with Renfe with Madrid-Barcelona tickets from 9 euros
The liberalization of high railway speed in Spain is already a reality.Today Ouigo has started, the Low Costa brand of the French SNCF, on an inaugural trip from Madrid to Barcelona.This is the first test for one of the trains that as of Monday, May 10 will begin to roll for the entire public coinciding with the end of the alarm state.
In this way Ouigo will be the first company that will compete with Renfe (and its low-cost Avlo) in the Madrid-Barcelona routes, with stops in Zaragoza and Tarragona, and with tickets from 9 euros.In addition, it will offer a flat rate for children between 4 and 13 years with 5 euros tickets.
“Ouigo will popularize high speed in Spain and make liberalization a reality.We are committed to the recovery of the sector, the economy and our way of life, ”said Hélène Valenzuela, general director of Ouigo Spain during the presentation of the new trains.In addition, Valenzuela has detailed that Ouigo has invested around 600 million euros in the purchase of 14 trains and will create 1.300 jobs, 98% with indefinite contracts, and 50% of whom will be women.
The frequency of the trains will be five comings and five laps per day.Each train will have 508 seats and the forecast is to put a million seats until the end of the year.The Renfe rival will leave with five schedules between Madrid and Barcelona (7.05;10.05;14.10;17.25, and 21.00 hours), and another five between Barcelona and Madrid (6.Four. Five;10.33;13.Four. Five;17.40, and 20.45 hours).
"Today we write a page in history.Liberalization will be fundamental to give better services, better prices, attract more passengers and meet the objectives of sustainability and climate change.This liberalization does not represent a privatization, but it will make us all want to take the train.We want to inaugurate a golden age on the railroad, "said the president of Adif, Isabel Pardo de Vera, who has also participated in the inauguration.
"SNCF is proud of this important moment for Spain in which the liberalization of the high -speed rail market and the end of the alarm state coincides.With Ouigo we democratize the competition for the Spaniards and respond to the desire to travel, "said Christophe Fanichet, president of SNCF.
For his part, the Secretary of State for Transportation, Mobility and Urban Agend.000 million euros in high speed.It would be a waste that this infrastructure did not have the appropriate returns.The government has been ambitious with this economic reform and will continue to be so that we all win ".
