Spain’s high-speed train network has become, quite simply, a thing of beauty. Not only is it extensive (and growing all the time) but it’s cheap, too. The country is criss-crossed by several competing speedy low-cost lines run by Renfe, Iryo and Ouigo, which take travellers from the likes of Madrid and Barcelona to Murcia, Seville and Valencia.
And now several of those low-cost routes are set to get even cheaper. French rail operator Ouigo has announced it’ll soon start selling tickets for routes between Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza, Tarragona and Barcelona for just €9 (£7.90, $9.60). That’s right: €9!
The tickets will go live on March 1 and they’ll be available for travel between July 11 and December 9 2023. In total, 1.7 million tickets will be up for sale – and Ouigo isn’t stopping there. It’ll also launch a new route between Madrid and the south-eastern seaside city of Alicante in summer 2023, thereby extending its low-cost, high-speed options even further.
Ouigo’s announcement is ideal for anyone who missed out on the recent sale by Spanish national rail operator Renfe. Last week, the operator announced it was selling tickets on its high-speed AVE route between Madrid and Barcelona for just €15 (£13, $16). That sale expired last Saturday (February 25).
If you fancy getting hold of some of Ouigo’s mega-cheap tickets, you’ll be able to get them through this link from March 1. Then build it into a wider trip by checking out this handy map, which shows how you can get across Europe by sleeper train.
Did you see that a brand-new sleeper train linking several European cities is launching soon?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for the latest travel news and the best stuff happening across the world.