Taking a leaf from France’s Oui network of high-speed trains that compete with its own TGV network, Spain is planning to launch its own lower-cost network, starting with the high-traffic Madrid-Barcelona route.
Spain’s national rail operator, RENFE, plans to start service on the route by next year, under the name EVA, competing with the existing high-speed AVE network at fares about 25% lower. The public works ministry says the project is aimed at a younger audience that takes buses because of the higher rail fares, currently around €98 on that route.
RENFE is betting that the increased comfort and speed of the train will pull passengers off the road, even though the EVA route will not go all the way into Barcelona’s Sants station. Instead, it will terminate at El Prat de Llobregat, where Barcelona’s airport is located. Passengers can continue into the city on the Metro’s Line 9. It will also make the Barcelona airport a better option for passengers whose destination is Madrid.
Barcelona is building (in fits and starts) a new mainline station for northern and eastern Barcelona at La Sagrera in the northeastern part of the city, which might eventually be served by the new service.
