The AVE consolidates rail as transport hub in Spain
13 August, 2025Spanish high-speed rail reached a new passenger record in 2024, with almost 40 million passengers, which represents an increase of 22% compared to 2023 and 77% more than in 2019, according to the latest CNMC report. This growth consolidates rail as a transport hub and strengthens its advantage over air travel.
The routes with the greatest competition between operators, such as Madrid-Barcelona and Madrid-Valencia, recorded the highest increases. The first corridor exceeded 14.6 million passengers, while the second reached 5.6 million. There was also strong growth in journeys to Andalusia, Alicante and Levante, all of which exceeded four million.
The report highlights the impact of liberalisation: fares on Madrid-Barcelona fell by up to 35% compared to 2019, and on Madrid-Valencia by 42%. This competition has redistributed the market: Renfe maintains between 50% and 73% share depending on the route, while Iryo and Ouigo are gaining ground.
Rail is gaining ground even on routes traditionally dominated by air travel. On routes such as Madrid-Malaga and Madrid-Barcelona, the rail share has already reached 82%.