Renfe carried a record 8.4 million passengers on its long-distance commercial services between July 1 and September 15, 2025, marking the company’s best summer season to date.
The Spanish state-owned rail operator said the figure represents an increase of nearly 350,000 travelers compared with the same period in 2024, when 8.1 million passengers used its AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, and Tourist Train services.
The company reported an average occupancy rate of 94.1% and punctuality of 80.5% across its high-speed and long-distance operations during the summer period. July recorded the highest monthly ridership in Renfe’s history, with 3.5 million passengers—4.6% above the previous record set in June 2025. Routes between Madrid and Barcelona were the most popular, carrying more than 1.6 million travelers, followed by Madrid–Seville, Madrid–Málaga, Madrid–Alicante, and Madrid–Valencia.
High Demand Despite Service Disruptions
Renfe’s performance was affected by a series of wildfires that swept across Spain during the summer, particularly in Galicia, Castilla y León, and Extremadura. The fires disrupted around 524 commercial trains and impacted 154,645 passengers. Between August 12 and 20, 186 train services between Madrid and Galicia were affected by partial or total line closures, and the connection was entirely suspended from August 14 to 19. During this period, Renfe operated shuttle services between Madrid and Zamora to maintain connectivity.
The closure of the Madrid–Galicia line affected more than 60,000 travelers and caused a revenue loss of €3.3 million for the operator. Renfe said it spent €357,000 on customer assistance, mainly covering hotel stays and alternative transport for affected passengers. In total, public service trains, including regional and commuter operations, recorded 106 incidents linked to fires, affecting 679 trains and over 65,000 passengers.
Mixed Results for Public Service and Regional Lines
While Renfe’s commercial services set new records, its public service operations—including conventional medium-distance, high-speed regional (Avant), and commuter (Cercanías) trains—saw a decline in ridership compared with summer 2024. The company attributed the drop to the end of the free travel program for medium-distance and commuter services, which had boosted demand in previous years.
Despite the decrease in passenger numbers, Renfe operated 5.5% more public service routes, adding nearly 20,000 trips compared with last year. The company reported punctuality rates of 81% for medium-distance trains and 92.5% for commuter services. In the Avant network, stations with the highest passenger volumes included Madrid’s Atocha and Chamartín, as well as Toledo, Barcelona, and Valladolid, with more than 2.1 million travelers. Conventional medium-distance services recorded approximately 2.6 million passengers, with the busiest routes connecting Barcelona, Seville, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, and Girona.
‘Verano Joven’ Discount Program Boosts Youth Travel
Renfe’s summer performance was also supported by the government-backed ‘Verano Joven’ campaign, which offered significant fare reductions for travelers aged 18 to 30. The company sold more than 4 million discounted tickets under the initiative, a 56.7% increase—equivalent to 1.4 million more tickets—compared with the 2024 edition.
The campaign, launched on July 1 and running until September 30, provided discounts of 90% on medium-distance services and 50% on AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, Intercity, and Avant trains. It also included a free long-distance trip for every two tickets purchased and a 50% discount on the Interrail Global Pass. Renfe said it sold over 6,000 Interrail passes during the summer season.
According to the company, the strong performance of long-distance and youth travel segments demonstrates the growing demand for rail travel within Spain and across Europe. While wildfires and operational challenges temporarily disrupted services, Renfe’s record passenger numbers underline the resilience of the high-speed network and the continued appeal of train travel for domestic and international passengers.
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