Seville to Madrid train with AVE

Spain’s Best High-Speed Train? Seville to Madrid With Iryo

Introduction

Spain’s high-speed rail network is the biggest in Europe, and in recent years, passengers have gained much greater choice on which trains they can use, thanks to the arrival of competition with the legacy operator, Renfe. Four companies now operate high-speed services in Spain, the latest to join the trend being Iryo, which is half-owned by Trenitalia, the Italian state railway. Iryo’s promise was for an offering for everyone, from a basic class for tighter budgets up to a luxurious top-tier service to rival Renfe’s own excellent “Prémium” class on their AVE services and Business Class on planes. I traveled from Seville, in Andalucia, up to the Spanish capital of Madrid in Iryo’s top ‘Infinita Bistró’ Class to find out.

Route Overview

Seville to Madrid is a fast, high-speed journey; it takes well under three hours to complete the 470-kilometer (292-mile) journey. Trains are frequent and operated by all high-speed operators in Spain. Prices vary wildly depending on the operator, time of day, and class of travel, starting from less than €20 if you opt for a budget option at an off-peak time. I opted for a lunchtime departure at 12:25, with a journey time of just 2 hours and 42 minutes. The entirety of the trip is spent on the aptly-named Madrid to Seville high-speed line. This crosses countless viaducts and, combined with Spain’s stunning southern European landscapes, makes this a beautiful journey (a window seat is very much worth it).

Transportation Experience

On all long-distance trains in Spain, it is compulsory to have a seat reservation; you can’t even access the high-speed train platforms without a ticket. Trains are a very popular way to get around Spain, especially in the summer, and this causes them to sell out or be very expensive. Make sure to book on the Omio app or website nice and early to guarantee the best fare.

Route Details

Departure & Arrival Stations

All high-speed trains in Seville, including Iryo, serve the same station: Sevilla Santa Justa. It is conveniently located right in the center of the city and is served by a few bus lines. It is about a 15-minute walk away from the city’s sole tram and metro lines. Like at all Spanish high-speed stations, you will pass a security check before you access the train platforms, but don’t worry; you won’t have to take your liquids or electronics out of your bag. All Iryo trains from Seville call at Madrid’s main station: Puerta de Atocha, which is located very centrally within the Spanish capital. Atocha is extremely well served by public transport, including the vast Madrid Metro, as well as a large number of Cercanías (commuter rail) lines.

Fun fact: Puerta de Atocha has a very serene botanical garden inside the station! It is absolutely worth a wander when you arrive.

Schedule & Frequency

Iryo operates six trains per day between Seville and Madrid, all with a journey time of around 2 hours and 40 minutes. They are evenly spread out throughout the day, running every 2 to 4 hours, with the last service running at 20:28. Note that since a reservation is required, your ticket is tied to one train; however, some ticket types allow modifications for a small fee or free of charge.

Onboard Experience & Services

Iryo only operates one type of train, namely the Bombardier Zefiro, which is identical to the Frecciarossa 1000 train sets used in Italy. I traveled in the highest of the four classes of travel on Iryo, Infinita Bistró. This includes very comfortable leather seats in a 2+1 configuration. There is a good mix of airline-style and facing seats, with all the additional comforts you might wish for: padded armrests, individual reading lights, a manual seat recline, and large tables that easily fit a large laptop.

Where this offering really shines is with the food. There is an extensive menu of light dishes to choose from, included in your ticket, along with snacks, desserts, and hot and cold drinks, including alcohol. The food was fresh, high-quality, and tasty, and the staff were very responsive and friendly. I went for the smoked salmon set with orange juice and coffee, which was delicious!

The rest of the train has three other classes, with varying levels of comfort and service. However, only the “Inicial” class, the cheapest of all, contains smaller seats laid out in a 2+2 configuration, akin to most European intercity trains in Second Class. Fast and free WiFi is available for all passengers. Three pieces of luggage are included with all fares: a suitcase, a carry-on, and a backpack or handbag. Plentiful storage is available onboard with large luggage stacks and overhead racks.

Ticketing Advice & Budget Breakdown

Prices are dynamic and increase based on time, season, and demand. Despite this, in my experience, Iryo train tickets vary much less in price than Renfe and are nearly always cheaper overall. I paid €49 with one month’s notice for my Infinita Bistró class ticket, which included a meal; that’s excellent value!

Top Tips & Personal Recommendations

• Book well in advance to guarantee yourself the best fare.
• Secure yourself a window seat for the best views. Spanish landscapes from a train are among my favorite in Europe!
• In my opinion, the lowest or highest classes of travel with Iryo offer the best value. You just need to decide if you want the cheapest prices or the best service!

Conclusion

Has Iryo beaten Renfe’s own First Class ‘Premium’ Class by proposing something just as good for a much cheaper fare? Yes, I think they very much have. It’s a real treat to get a premium experience in Spain for a fraction of the cost it used to be a few years back. Is Iryo still worth it if another train operator has cheaper basic fares? Not as much, but that’s okay, as on Omio, you can easily compare the prices of all operators on one route. In Second Class, I’d just opt for the cheapest possible option.

About the Author: Nonstop Eurotrip

• Job Title: Travel Content Creator
• Bio: I create YouTube trip reports and reviews on trains, planes, buses and ferries within Europe—and all around the world—and also share blog posts and travel deals on my website.