SPAIN | Iryo to expand high-speed services by 13.8% in 2027

Spanish high-speed operator Iryo is set to significantly expand its services in 2027, with the addition of three new trains allowing the company to operate 22,764 services across the year. Iryo confirmed that its trains can now be booked a year in advance

Iryo has opened bookings for the entire 2027 timetable, which represents a 13.8% increase in services compared with 2026. The expansion will be particularly strong on routes between Madrid and Andalusia, with Madrid to Málaga emerging as the biggest growth market.

The Madrid–Málaga route will receive 1,367 additional train services in 2027, a 63.7% increase. Madrid to Seville will gain 1,091 additional services, representing growth of 39% and bringing the route to a total of 3,884 annual services.

Madrid to Barcelona will remain Iryo’s busiest route, with 7,740 services scheduled for 2027. The operator will also increase services between Madrid and Albacete by 12.9%, adding 32 services, while capacity on the Madrid to Valencia and Barcelona-Seville corridors will remain at this year’s level.

The expansion will also benefit intermediate stations. Córdoba is set to receive 2,779 additional stops, an increase of 40.8% compared with 2026. Ciudad Real and Puertollano will each gain 1,834 additional annual stops, more than tripling their number of services, with growth of 207%.

Zaragoza will receive 577 additional stops, a 10.2% increase, while Albacete will gain 32 additional stops.

Iryo said its expanded timetable would place greater emphasis on early-morning and late-afternoon departures, making same-day business travel between Spain’s major cities easier.

Three more ETR1000 trains

The service expansion will be made possible by three additional Hitachi-built ETR1000 high-speed trainsets joining Iryo’s fleet during the coming year. The first of the three was delivered to the operator’s Santa Catalina depot in Madrid on 26 August.

The trains are options from a €920 million order for 20 ETR1000 trainsets placed by Iryo shareholder Trenitalia in November 2023.

Iryo currently has 19 trains following the derailment at Adamuz. One driving car from trainset 109012 is reportedly being stored at Villanueva de Córdoba while a decision is awaited on whether it can be repaired.

In total, Iryo plans to operate 22,764 services in 2027, with much of the expansion concentrated on Madrid–Barcelona and the routes to Andalusia.

The operator has longer-term ambitions to launch services on the Mediterranean Corridor between Barcelona and Valencia. However, delays to the work needed to accommodate standard-gauge trains mean that Iryo’s 1,435 mm-gauge trains are unlikely to be able to use the route before the end of 2027 at the earliest.

2023 Andalusia Whirlwind Tour

1. PRELUDE | Visiting Gibraltar in 2013.
2. REVIEW | Eurostar Amsterdam – Antwerp – Brussels – Paris in 2023.
3. PARIS | Restaurant Le Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon.
4. REVIEW | SNCF TGV inOui from Paris-Gare-de-Lyon to Barcelona-Sants.
5. REVIEW | Hotel Barcelo Sants.
6. INTERMEZZO | Spain saw a surge of Belgians visiting in the first quarter of 2024.
7. SPAIN | Renfe Sala Club or Club Lounge at Adif stations.
8. REVIEW | Renfe AVE in Premium from Barcelona-Sants to Córdoba.
9. SPAIN | The Mezquita or Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba.
10. CÓRDOBA | The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos or Castle of the Christian Monarchs.
11. REVIEW | Hotel Eurostars Palace Córdoba.
12. ANDALUSIA | Half a day in Córdoba.
13. TRAINS IN SPAIN | Iryo in Infinita class from Córdoba to Seville.
14. ANDALUSIA | Real Alcázar of Seville.
15. ANDALUSIA | Seville Cathedral or Catedral de Santa María de la Sede de Sevilla.
16. REVIEW | Hotel Posada del Lucero in Seville.
17. ANDALUSIA | Half a day in Seville ft. Plaza de España and Las Setas or Metropol Parasol.
18. TRAINS IN SPAIN | Renfe Avant regional ‘local’ train on high speed lines.
19. GRANADA | The Alhambra and the Generalife.
20. REVIEW | Hotel Catalonia Granada.
21. ANDALUSIA | Granada on Día de la Hispanidad.
22. INTERMEZZO | Spain demands your personal data before you travel there.
23. ANDALUSIA | Málaga ft. the Alcazaba and the Cathedral.
24. REVIEW | Restaurante Matiz, Málaga.
25. REVIEW | Hotel Barcelo Málaga.
26. REVIEW | TUIfly Fly Deluxe Málaga to Antwerp.
27. 2023 ANDALUSIA WHIRLWIND TOUR | Climate change travel habits, roaming by train and top hospitality mentality at hotels.