Spain's Renfe confirms return of Madrid-Barcelona low-cost Avlo service

Spain's state rail company Renfe has confirmed it will bring back low-cost Avlo services between Madrid and Barcelona.

Renfe president, Álvaro Fernández Heredia, told Cadena Ser in a recent radio interview that the company will not abandon the route between Spain's two major cities: "We do not intend for Avlo to disappear from Madrid and Barcelona," he said, defending the decision to withdraw the trains following a technical fault.

Suspended back in September, Avlo has continued to operate between Madrid and many Spanish cities such as Valencia, Alicante, Malaga, Seville, Gijón, Murcia, and Valladolid.

READ ALSO: Spain's Renfe to pull low-cost Avlo trains between Madrid and Barcelona

In the interview, the journalist questioned whether the decision to pull the low-cost service was only for the Barcelona corridor or a sign of things to come, hinting at further cutbacks or even the end of Avlo: "No more Avlo for Barcelona, or no more Avlo full stop? Is this a step, or is this the first step?" he asked.

"Neither of the two," Heredia replied, describing the suspension as "for now."

Pushed on a return date, he said, "I can't give you the answer because we are working with the manufacturer to guarantee these trains."

Although Heredia did not give a specific date for the return of the low-cost service between Barcelona and Madrid, he reassured listeners that it would happen "in months" rather than "in years."

The news will be welcomed by many Spanish travellers and commuters.

The suspension of Avlo services between Madrid and Barcelona has caused ticket prices to surge by up to 40 percent and even as high as 60 percent in some cases, depending on travel time and availability.

READ ALSO: From €40 to €106 - Cuts to Madrid-Barcelona Avlo train services send prices soaring

Renfe suspended its Avlo services between the two cities after detecting that one Avlo S106 train model had a crack in the frame. This led to the withdrawal of all Avlo s106 models on high-speed lines.

Cancelled services were replaced by Renfe's other high-speed AVE services, which are considerably more expensive, as well as private sector rivals including Ouigo and Iryo.

As a result, prices have soared. Some figures put the rise at as much as 60 percent month-on-month, with tickets now reaching €140 in some cases depending on travel time.