Ouigo trains will soon run between Madrid and Valladolid, a new railway line in Spain to be operated by France’s state-owned railway company SNCF.
Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) has validated the opening to competition of a new line on the Spanish rail network.
After lines to Seville, Barcelona and Alicante from Madrid, Valladolid will be the fourth destination to be opened to competition and the third operated by Ouigo, the low-cost subsidiary of the French national operator SNCF.
According to the Spanish authorities, the CNMC has validated this line for the operation of French Ouigo trains because it “does not affect the economic balance of the public service contract signed between the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and Renfe Viajeros”.
Ouigo trains between Madrid and Valladolid to meet growing transport demand
A city 190 km from the capital Madrid, Valladolid has seen a real explosion in demand for rail transport, with trains often packed to capacity and an average seat occupancy rate of over 90%. As a result, there is currently unsatisfied demand, particularly for occasional travel. This demand is satisfying SNCF, which is adding a new destination from Madrid after Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante.
It should be noted that two other low-cost operators, namely Avlo (owned by the national rail operator Renfe) and the Italian company Iryo, are already running trains on the first three high-speed lines on the Spanish network.
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