Spain Launches Low Cost Bullet Train For Madrid - Barcelona Route

JAKARTA - Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, Spain continues to expand its high-speed, bullet-based train services that will continue this year.

Yes, while many transportation operators around the world are forced to ground their fleets due to the large number of restrictions caused by COVID-19, the low-cost bullet train service Avlo, owned by the Spanish train company Renfe, launched a new service.

Last January, Renfe Avlo launched a high-speed bullet train service that connects two major cities in Spain, Madrid, and Barcelona which have a distance of 500 kilometers in just two hours and a half.

If using the additional stops at Guadalajara, Calatayud, Zaragosa, Lleida, Tarragona, and Girona, the entire journey will take about three hours.

The train, which can travel at speeds of up to 330 kilometers per hour, has 438 passenger seats. Later, this route will have four round-trip itineraries starting June 23. The rates? Starting from 5 euros or 6 US dollars only.

The ticket price is a promo price valid for travel until next December. Yes, this service was launched to coincide with Renfe's 80th anniversary. Meanwhile, the standard train ticket prices range from 10 euros to 60 euros.

Initially, this service will be launched in April 2020. However, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In total there are 112 high-speed trains prepared by Renfe for this new service.

Avlo is basically a cheaper alternative to the Renfe Alta Velocidad Española (AVE) network. The older brother operates on the second-longest high-speed rail network in the world, after China's bullet train service.

Interestingly, although not yet officially operational, this service is already facing low fare competition with the Ouigo network owned by French rail company SNCF, which also offers high-speed train services at low fares between Madrid - Spain.

Yes, for the promotional price at launch, the Ouigo ticket only costs 1 euro. Meanwhile, standard ticket prices start at 9 euros for a single trip. And, this train will only be launched in May 2021.

It looks prospective, but currently, Spain is still making restrictions. The national curfew is still in effect and will only be lifted in May if nothing changes. Spain itself is one of the countries that has imposed a tight lockdown.

Residents are currently only allowed to leave their homes to work, for education, buy medicine or care for the elderly or children, and masks are mandatory for use on public transport and in indoor public spaces.