Spain railway liberalization reduces high-speed travel costs

The liberalization of the Spanish high-speed rail market has led to significant price reductions and increased passenger travel. According to a study titled ‘El viajero que decide’, commissioned by the ticket platform Trainline and conducted by Misura Economics, high-speed travel costs between 38% and 52% less than in 2019.

The introduction of competitors such as Ouigo and Iryo has driven market competition, resulting in an average price reduction of 1.44 euros per ticket. This competition is estimated to generate annual savings of between 40 and 50 million euros for high-speed rail travelers collectively.

Users of comparison platforms like Trainline see higher individual benefits, saving an average of 7.48 euros per ticket, which equates to an annual saving of 18 to 23 million euros for that user group. The study also highlights ‘measurable wellbeing’—including convenience, transparency, and security—which is valued at 23.75 euros per ticket. The most significant factor cited is time saved by avoiding repetitive searches.