AROUND 5000 passengers travelled on the first day of high-speed services between Ourense and Madrid on December 21, according to Spanish national operator Renfe.

The first train departed Ourense at 06.30 carrying 160 passengers. The first train left Madrid Chamartin at 10.00 with all seats occupied.

The final section of the Madrid - Galicia high-speed line was completed in November with operations commencing on the Pedralba de la Pradería – Ourense section this week, reducing journey times between the Spanish capital and the region by an hour. The project included the construction of a 101km line from Pedralba de la Pradería to Taboadela, and the upgrading of the 16km Taboadela – Ourense section. A 110km section of the line between Zamora and Pedralba de la Pradería opened on October 26 2020.

Since the launch of ticket sales on November 23, there have been 125,000 tickets sold including promotional €15 tickets to celebrate the arrival of high-speed rail in Galicia.

The standard-gauge line allows AVE services to operate at 300km/h. However, 250km/h class 130 and 730 Alvia gauge-changing trains will also be used on the line, operating from Ourense to A Coruña, Ferrol, Lugo, Pontevedra and Vigo. Renfe is certifying the first gauge-changing trains to operate at 330km/h, and once these begin operating journey times will be further reduced by 20 minutes between Madrid and Galicia.

Initially the line will reduce journey times and improve frequencies on the following routes:

  • A Coruna - Madrid increases from five to 10 trains per day in each direction (three direct) with 3h 30min the fastest journey time
  • Santiago - Madrid increases from five to 10 trains per day in each direction (four direct) with 3h the fastest journey time
  • Ferrol - Madrid maintains two trains per day with 5h 8min the fastest journey time
  • Vigo - Madrid increases from four to eight trains per day in each direction (four direct) with 4h 16 min the fastest journey time
  • Pontevedra - Madrid increases from five to seven trains per day in each direction (four direct) with 4h the fastest journey time
  • Lugo - Madrid increases from three to four daily services per day in each direction (one direct) with 3h 59min the fastest journey time, and
  • Ourense - Madrid increases from six to 10 daily services per day in each direction with 2h 15 min the fastest journey time.

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