iryo trains

iryo is a private, open-access high-speed rail operator in Spain, one of the newcomers that ended Renfe's monopoly on high-speed routes. The brand launched in November 2021, and the first passenger services began a year later, in November 2022, on the Madrid to Barcelona corridor. It's a joint venture between Italy's state operator Trenitalia, which holds the majority stake, Spanish regional airline Air Nostrum, and infrastructure investor Globalvia. iryo is not connected to Renfe, Spain's state railway, or to Ouigo España, the French-backed low-cost operator. On routes like Madrid to Barcelona, all three now compete directly, alongside Renfe's own low-cost Avlo brand, so it's worth comparing iryo against Renfe AVE, Avlo and Ouigo before booking rather than assuming they're interchangeable options from the same company.

The fleet is built around Frecciarossa ETR1000 trains, the same design Trenitalia runs in Italy, reaching speeds up to 300 km/h. iryo's network covers domestic routes only within Spain, centred on Madrid: Madrid to Barcelona, run via two route variants, Madrid to Valencia and Alicante via Cuenca, and Madrid to Seville and Málaga via Córdoba, plus direct Barcelona to Seville and Málaga services that route through Madrid along the way.

Reservations on iryo are compulsory for every passenger, including Interrail and Eurail pass holders. You cannot board without one. This is the single most important thing to get right if you're travelling with a pass: book your iryo seat as soon as your travel dates are fixed, because reservation space is limited and popular Madrid to Barcelona departures sell out. Pass holders make reservations through the Interrail or Eurail reservation self-service system rather than directly with iryo.

Service splits into two main classes. Inicial is 2nd class, with 2+2 seating and a refreshment trolley. Infinita is 1st class, with 2+1 seating and a meal served at your seat from iryo's own dining menu. Each class also has more and less flexible fare variants, so check what's included before comparing prices with a competitor. For Interrail and Eurail pass holders booking through the self-service system, 2nd class reservations are cheaper than 1st class; treat the class choice as a comfort and meal-service decision rather than a speed difference, since journey time is the same in both.