Barcelona to Madrid for Just 7€! The Low-Cost Experience with Avlo by RENFE

[@CityWhisperer]

6:08 Small correction here. Surprisingly enough, the fastest Avlo linking Madrid to Barcelona, which runs with no intermediate stops, takes just 2h30min -- the same it takes for the fastest AVEs to run the service. Competing with low-cost airlines and road travel!

[@katherinespencer2633]

I am so impressed with the trains , so much better than the crap we have here in the States. We are so very far behind the rest of the world..spectacular scenery, thank you for another job well done.

[@killergen]

I can't wait for the entrance of the third competitor in Spain: IRYO, a Trenitalia brand. They will use the ultra cool ETR 1000.

[@barry5101]

@@hypernewlapse * 55% air nostrum and 45% Trenitalia

[@rezaalan3991]

Woaah, what a diverse of companies.

[@matt.e402]

*etr 400

[@nicopavvi8494]

I can't say anything about the service (Trenitalia is a big question mark), but the etr 400 (or etr 1000) it's a really good train, I think it's my favorite among high speed trains.

[@axwleurope9519]

@@nicopavvi8494 it's beautiful but the noise and the tilt system are not the best

[@ph11p3540]

One One of the most beautiful paint liveries I have ever seen on any train.

[@allyreneepenny9447]

Spain has so beautiful Trains 👍😍

[@albe6253]

The flown of ballast is the reason for not going further from 300 km/h. 310 km/h is only used in direct services but only for recovering delays (in case they occur). The direct journey is 2h 30 min. 2h 45 min is stopping only in Zaragoza.

[@uncinarynin]

I wonder why such lines are not all built with fixed concrete track. Such is used in Germany between Köln and Frankfurt.

[@albe6253]

@@uncinarynin The construction and manteniance over the time is much cheaper using ballast instead of concrete

[@uncinarynin]

@@albe6253 Actually I'd love to know more, now that high speed lines with different technologies have been in service for decades. Do you know any sources giving more details on this?

[@dagoadenis]

They don't run at 310 km/h anymore because they need ETCS level 2 that it's currenly not working.

[@ce1834]

the initial cost is higher for concrete track, but the maintenance costs are *much* lower and allows for higher speeds

[@EuroDC1990]

Fantastic looking trains, really smart interiors. Personally I think they look better than the normal AVE trains

[@axwleurope9519]

Yes they don't look low cost at all

[@DandamanV]

The sight of the train absolutely full, and people looking relaxed and enjoying themselves gives me so much joy. I so do wish we had this in Australia. We desperately need a service like this from Brisbane to Melbourne via Canberra

[@osasunaitor]

But you do have passenger railways in Australia, don't you? Why isn't it possible to see this?

[@Backstretch1]

@@osasunaitor COVID-19 oppression?

[@tranmere292]

Agree, as I've said previously our 7-hour train journey from Sydney to Wauchope of the XPT (!) is a joke and only really appeals to the poor and pensioners like me who travel for free.

[@DandamanV]

@@osasunaitor Australia is big, trains are slow. Domestic air travel is subsidised by the government. Population is not dense enough (apparently). All factors.

[@truedarklander]

@@DandamanV nah the population density excuse doesn't work for these high density corridors.

[@PatrickLechevallier]

Encore une autre excellente vidéo!On ne s'en lasse pas!J'ai pu voir les États-Unis,l'Europe,le Maroc....Les commentaires sont tres bien fait et il n'y a pas de musique énervante qui gache tout'Peut-etre un jour feras-tu la Russie et la Chine,cela devrait etre tres intéressant du point de vue ferroviaire....Bonjour de Québec (Canada) et Bonne Année a toi!

[@axwleurope9519]

Those huge windows and the Talgo tilt system make the difference. Also the interior design doesn't look low cost at all. Best price quality service at 300 km/h

[@stennordenmalm1735]

Thanks for this very interesting video. This train looks like a gamechanger. Beautiful, 300 km/h, long distance, 20€... Just oaaaaoh

[@nickmorgan1690]

Those windows are huge! I love it

[@donfenton7473]

It’s amazing ho different parts of the world look so much like others. I live in Utah and thought the same thing.

[@silenthunteruk]

That's why they filmed a lot of Westerns in Spain.

[@javiercastroviejo1112]

The top speed isn't anymore 310 km/h, the cost of the maintenance got bigger in those sections of the route and the trains only saved up a couple of minutes so Adif decided to put the limit to 300 km/h again a couple of years ago. There aren't any plans to upgrade the speed limits on the line. 350 km/h is the biggest dynamic speed which the catenary can hold, so it is better to keep it below just for security. Nice video :)

[@bltzcstrnx]

By this margin does this mean the line in China that operates at 350 km/h have maximum of around 400 km/h? That is going to be expensive to maintain I assume.

[@westy6214]

@@bltzcstrnx, the maximum design speed of HSR lines in China is 380 km/h currently, with 380 km/h being the optimum certification for the catenary, track and railway equipment. I'm not sure if the 20 km/h extra makes much of a difference, and a study by Chinese engineers showed that energy inefficiency peaks between 380 and 400 km/h, with it being roughly the same at those speeds.

[@El-Mengu]

13:10 The Madrid-Barcelona AVE line is fitted with ERTMS level 1 which has a top speed of 300 km/h. Had it ERTMS level 2 installed, it would allow for speeds up to 350 km/h as the catenary (model C-350) and the infrastructure support such speeds. The implementation of level 2 caused too many technical problems and a cost-benefit analysis made it not worth it; between 300 and 350 km/h energy draw increases exponentially, vehicles need to go through maintenance more often, line capacity isn't really increased that much compared to level 1 and the time gained with acceleration times taken into account is very little. So the investment to overcome the technical problems on top of the already more expensive level 2 wasn't ideal, therefore the few short level 2 sections were removed a few years ago and it's all level 1 now.

[@CalinFR]

So there were some areas with Level 2 ERTMS. Would the AVEs have gone there beyond 310km/h?

[@wyqtor]

300 km/h is already sci-fi for many countries in Europe.

[@CKLee-rs4kl]

I would say the time is equal to or better than air travel with the drive to the airport, check-in and the time it takes to get through security and then the drive into the city on the other end of the trip. Plus, for some reason, its just more fun to take the train.

[@mariomartinsancho9392]

Hey there! Just 2 tips: 1. The fastest relation is made in 2h 30mins. 2. Some years ago it was decided to upgrade AVE services to the admitted top speed (350km/h), allowing Bcn-Mad relations to be made in 2h 10 minutes. However, due to the heavy cost increment, RENFE decided to adjust it another time to 300km/h. Then, for two years (I guess 2014-2015) AVE services were made at a top speed of 350km/h. It is not contemplated to change that now, but maybe with new OUIGO, IRYO... they will consider it!

Adif does not allow higher speeds right now

[@truedarklander]

@ he did say that it's at 300 rn

[@williammerry4746]

Another outstanding report on this high speed economy train. A real bargain. Better take care of your cough, Thibault

[@calebtrains2261]

Great Video. Also, Spain Has The Largest High-Speed Rail System In Europe, And 2nd Largest In The World, After China.

[@vickyschnorbus4166]

I love the train colors on the outside ( livery?). Very modern looking.

[@Fer_jotage]

Saludos desde Buenos Aires, Argentina! Muy buenos tus videos! Ahora estoy yendo a ver tu nuevo canal, el Minitrack, estoy seguro de que será tan bueno como este!

[@storm2k]

It is interesting that you mention that parts of the landscape remind you of the American West. That's why a lot of western films of old (especially Sergio Leone's classic films) were actually filmed in those remote parts of Spain because of the fact that it similarly resembled the American West.

[@elsnons]

Lo ves, tienes ahí un video muy bien editado, un profesional, tanto el audio como el montaje de imágenes es ameno y entretenido. Buen trabajo bro.

[@mariadelmarjimenezarroyo]

Good video. If you do a Madrid-Valencia or Alicante, you can enjoy a first class seat. If you choose a seat, find a 2+1 layout and these will be the ex 1st class seat

[@tomautopics7917]

On dirait un train japonais! Tes vidéos sont tout simplement géniales, elles invitent au voyage.

[@truedarklander]

Well the S-112 is entirely home grown in Spain eh? Patito

[@jamesrivis620]

For your info...I sit on my couch watching your videos. Then I look up and am shocked that I still feel that I am in a train carriage !!!

[@scottyerkes1867]

Nice review of low cost travel between Barcelona and Madrid. Somrthing I would definitely do rather than fly. I also don't care for the airport vibe at Barcelona station. Price seems fair for the ride. Vending machines are not a favorite of mine. Thank you Thibault for a very good report 😀😀♥️♥️

[@tomosmerivale6297]

In your videos, I've always wondered where do you get your train consist diagrams from when you do your work through the train?

[@thomasroell8979]

Looks like a great ride, I enjoy all of your videos. THANK YOU!

[@marioluxrodriguez5048]

I always traveled with Talgo, usually with Renfe and I can say they are my favourite trains, silent, comfy, fast and they don't shake like other trains, I prefer it to Alstom, the TGV compared to the AVE for me it's low-cost xd. But I think Siemens is better, I travelled with the Railjet and it's perfect, my favs: Talgo 250 and Siemens Railjet.

[@gacj2010]

Mon Ami ... you are on the GO again ..I love going along with you...

[@johanfalk2875]

Disagree on the dining car conversion being awful. I think if your only objective is to get from A to B as fast and cheap as possible you’re not going to care about having a window. Most people just use their phone thru the trip anyway. As for the speed limit, it’s always a matter of cost per km/h like anywhere else. Great job with the video as always.

[@Ven100]

That's fine, then they just need to make those seats slightly cheaper than the rest, so you're not "stuck" with no window. If I'm taking a 2H 30 - 2H 45M high speed train, I want a view.

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Lindo trem simply gostei 👍 boa viagem ai

[@nobokishoresingha2951]

I love simply railway youtube video channel ❤️

[@shanerule3604]

Awesome, next time I will take a train from Madrid to Sants..

[@FlexxenRandomPlaces]

What, that's an insanely fair price.

[@the.abhiram.r]

it's still baffling how this low cost train is better than any train in the us i have taken

[@alaric3056]

It shouldn't be. USA has never had good public transportation.

[@SofiaBomba]

Pretty nice redesigning! How do they cope with checking luggage on board? It is a new policy for long distance trains, not so easy to check as in airplanes tho..

[@AndrewNeymar]

I love you comment's with Emojis! I smile with yours videos. 😆

[@dennisud]

I live in central Florida, and when the Brightline Train is finally finished from Orlando to Miami, and later the addition to Tampa, I hope to ride it to see friends in all 3 cities! I see that given the European Countries are in many ways comparable to the States of the U.S. they do have the advantage in that they have more Infrastructure updates than the U.S. has until this year. Hopefully, the New Infrastructure law can push more upgrades on Trains in the U.S.!

[@theobrattinga500]

Great video !!

[@astrofabio68]

Spain is the country with more high speed lines per habitant

[@osasunaitor]

That's not necessarily a good thing

[@robert111k]

@@osasunaitor, tenía que ser el de la boina a rosca. Ains...

[@osasunaitor]

@@robert111k y tú el que no quiere ver la realidad. Ser líderes mundiales en kms de alta velocidad con trenes vacíos en algunas líneas y un déficit insostenible, mientras el ferrocarril convencional se muere lentamente, pues ya me dirás qué tiene de bueno... Pero claro, _espéin námber uan lololo_ y todos tan contentos...

[@michaelhall8586]

I know what you mean about not liking train stations that look like airports. I get air sick when I get near airports. Cool train though!

[@uncinarynin]

Snazzy looking train. Looks like great value for money, but the way they rebuilt the bar car shows they wanted to save money. Converting this to a proper seating car with correctly placed windows would mean replacing the sidewalls. (Apparently Talgo did that when rebuilding Trenhotel to seating cars; unfortunately Spanish high speed came with a downfall of night trains that is in contrast with the renaissance now seen in central Europe.) When booking avlo, can you choose which car to sit in?

[@fetzie23]

I'm a little surprised they were allowed to put seats there because of emergency egress and access for the fire service to the coach.

[@CityWhisperer]

You need to pay an extra 8€ to select a seat, so technically yes but it comes with an extra cost. The cheapest tickets are precisely sold for that car, so chances are that that car is the first to be sold out.

[@truedarklander]

Because of this there's no direct Lisbon Madrid route anymore 😭

[@jennkyube]

That landscape really does remind me of southern california & nevada lol so thats how it'll look like if we ever got a high speed train built between LA - Vegas 😂

[@stevenmontoya9950]

Brightline West is due to break ground any moment now, whether it'll open in a timely manner is anyone's guess 🤣

[@geassrailfantitan3414]

So next summer 2023, im gonna probably go to switzerland and ride some of their most scenic trains such as Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Gotthard Panoramic express, Goldenpass line etc. I would love to see u review those rides, I have a feeling they can compete with the Denali star in terms of scenery and experience

[@wyqtor]

Make sure to go to Lauterbrunnen and take the Wengernalpbahn up the mountain!

[@JosephCompnotta]

Thanks, we will be doing this on Feb 2nd but going to Barcelona

[@guillaumedarbin2433]

Wow neat train

[@oscarconnecticut1460]

Nice video, as always! Guadalajara-Yebes must be the most useless station in the world 😀

[@asdsdjfasdjxajiosdqw8791]

Glorious high speed rail. When Spain and France (and the rest of Europe) expand and integrate their networks these low cost trains will hopefully push low cost planes going to the touristy beach areas out. We desperately need to stop subsidising, directly and indirectly, air travel as well, though.

[@billybaires]

Amazing

[@tgstudio7]

13:45 made my day! XD XD

[@guintube]

Why do you have to go through passport control on a domestic train journey? Also why does it lower the cost ?

[@james-uc7lh]

I think I have a crush on Thibault🤭

[@Humberto-F7]

Thanks for the ride

[@AddisonBook.]

@Simply Railway have you ever heard of the Durango and Silverton Scenic Railway or the Combres Toltec Scenic Railway or the Branson Zephyr?

[@omarhamid3638]

Good review 👍❤️🇪🇸

[@fikashafika]

where can i buy the tickets? I cannot seems to find online

[@timnewman1172]

Very nice, we need service like this in the States... Thanks Thibault!

[@Shuotography]

0:42 Did you cough and then whispered "sh*t" under your breath? lol

[@ToniGallardoLlorca]

Many say these 112 trains are unconfortable, but can't find much difference from others.

[@axwleurope9519]

For me they are even more comfortable than others. The tilt system is the best

[@saez71]

no steps...Great!!!

[@axwleurope9519]

That's a Talgo feature

[@ThunderYt28]

i suggest.... If you ever go to Portugal, especially Lisbon and try to travel between Lisbon and porto and there is a train that makes this route and this train is called Alfa Pendular, and there's a company called cp that means (comboios de Portugal) trains of Portugal It is a pendolino train from portugal By the way, i watch your videos from my country 🇵🇹

[@Andrewjg_89]

Liking the livery on those trains. Looks different from East Midlands Railway and Crosscountry that have the purple livery. And I never ever been to Barcelona.

[@pakroomitrains]

Awesome 👍👍👍

[@Abdullah-in9is]

During the trip did it go through any tunnels or viaducts?

[@ywilty]

Good vid, thanks.

[@neilmansfield8329]

This is a great train

[@nivardofloresperez1169]

Wonderful Ship... Low Cost+Comfort and Speed, is always going to be important in any society.

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report

[@josemanuelsolares9574]

About the checking, they should be done since the terrorists attacks occured in Spain in 2004 in Madrid Atocha, causing the death of almost 200 people. This is just to improve security, to feel safe.

[@saez71]

No steps to get aboard. Great !!!!

[@rakyounz]

1:52 i was starting to think where this horn was familiar from...

[@johannesbols57]

It would be so nice to have a high speed rail link Vancouver BC/Seattle/Portland/San Francisco/Los Angeles/San Diego. I would ride it. I enjoy the comments with the little emojies you make. Other channels it would look foolish but it somehow works for your channel. We should send you a cowboy hat when you're back in the USA and taking the train through Montana (to a dude ranch lol).

[@walkingwithathermosinrussi5090]

travel on trips is always interesting

[@aroundtheglobe24]

In terms of seating, price and comforts, which is the best? Avlo Or Ouigo?

[@axwleurope9519]

Avlo

[@alexanderoudmaijer3728]

couldn't you just make a sort of series like: High Speed Trains around the World these videos are my favourite go on

[@rezaalan3991]

Great idea. I think he should visit Asia in the future for trying many diverse HST at that continent

[@adiba9734]

would you like to review nagasaki new shinkansen line in the fall of 2022

[@AndreiTupolev]

It takes more than that to make one of those things look anything other than 😶, but I do like that purple livery

[@dsquared1950]

I recently discovered your channel and am enjoying your videos very much. Maybe I missed it, but I have not seen any accessibility features on the European trains, such as seating space for a wheelchair user and wheelchair accessible bathrooms, elevators in addition to escalators in stations. The boarding platforms do look level. It took decades of advocacy and litigation in the US to force Amtrak to become accessible and it is far from perfect. What is the status of accessibility in Europe?

[@philipbranco9568]

That happens on (Western) European trains, because there is a legal requirement like the U.S., but companies are allowed to take their time and take reasonable adjustments. At least one disabled toilet are pretty much de facto on each train. There is still no level boarding, but all train crew are taught how to push a wheelchair user onto a train. A judge would say that the that these requirement are reasonable.

[@KrlKngMrtssn]

EU law requires transport companies to enable free access for people with reduced mobility but it also allows companies to adapt to these requirements in a reasonable amount of time. It should not be a burden for the companies. But as far as I know people with such needs are quite able to travel freely nowadays at least in the countries I know better like Switzerland, Spain, Germany and France.

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. It was great to see where HST service operated by many companies on domestic route, so people can make their decision about their choice. Wait a minute, Passport check for Domestic route?

[@osasunaitor]

There is no passport check, only ticket. I don't know why he metioned passports tbh

[@CityWhisperer]

The most you can get is an ID check, given that tickets are nominative. In any case, he probably referred to the Covid passport.

[@BAKERAGUSTINIANO]

Can I take on board my own snacks and drinks?

[@MattUK36]

🇪🇦😍👌🏻

[@CalinFR]

The direct Avlo takes 2:30 to Madrid, not 2:45 :)

[@maxart3392]

Some time ago I read somewhere that they menaced that the purpose built Avlo Talgos would have a 3-2 layout. Sounds pretty ryanairish. Any truth in this?

[@albe6253]

Yes, the new Talgo HST's (Avril) that are being constructed the 2nd class is in 3+2. For the Avlo ones, the enitre train will be 3+2 seating

[@CityWhisperer]

Surprised me when I found out that that was the normal layout in Japan.

[@albe6253]

It's all about the loading gauge. The Japanese one is generous, so 3+2 seating is possible without sensation of being cramped. In Europe, with the loading gauge used there are two options. Single deck with higher density in 2nd class or Double deck. Or also it's possible to make longer trains but they won't comply UIC standards for international operation (200 meters for a single unit and 400 meters for a double unit of trains)

[@illangallegodiaz1324]

Yes, Talgo Avril units are expected to be in operation during summer 2022 and will be able to fit more than 600 passengers with the 3+2 layout on each unit.

[@goldfishandchips]

@@illangallegodiaz1324 I suppose this is how Renfe will eventually encourage people back onto AVE... 😂 It's a shame because I look at this version of Avlo and can't help but notice it looks more comfortable than the high cost long distance trains in the UK (e.g. CrossCountry).

[@임진영]

멋집니다.

[@deetjay1]

No wonder they made so many of the "Spaghetti westerns" in Spain! Looks so much like the American Southwest...

[@Roadcalldude]

Did I see you flip off a bathroom sink?

[@wyqtor]

A shame that only the profitable Madrid-Barcelona line has low-cost train options. From Madrid to Sevilla or Málaga it's usually cheaper by plane LOL.

[@鬱鬱-e2w]

You are right

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

Good film, though I was puzzled by you having to show passports to go from Barcelona to Madrid,

[@ramonparada]

Probably he meant Covid Passport.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

@@ramonparada Thanks for that. In the UK you don't have to be vaccinated to travel on a train, and I didn't realise that you do in Spain.

[@danivl8286]

@@Clivestravelandtrains He means the actual passport, in Spain to use long distance rail you need to go through a security control where they'll ask for ID (to check it's you using your ticket) and will have your baggage go through an X Ray machine. It's like this in all big stations.

[@Clivestravelandtrains]

@@danivl8286 Yes I lived in Spain from 2004 to 2009 and am aware of the security checks which were introduced in the days of ETA terrorism. I had a National Identity Card which was useful in many situations such as this - but I never had to show my passport to board a train in Spain. That's why I didn't understand the remark. I'm not sure what the security checks achieve as they allow liquids and other stuff, and I never saw anyone have anything taken off them by the checkers. With the Talgo trains they were easy to evade anyway - Talgos are security-checked before leaving Valencia, but there were no checks at intermediate stops such as Sagunto or Benicassim.

[@selfstockage7930]

Nice trip

[@Ronaldogiri]

🤩🤩

[@myra0224]

Honestly, I don't get the no-window seats. There's clearly a place where the windows were, but it's just painted over? Why?

[@CityWhisperer]

I believe that that's where the staff cafeteria compartment was (where they keep cafeteria supplies, prepare meals, etc). I guess it has no windows because originally the walls were used, along with shelfs, to pile up stuff.

[@myra0224]

@@CityWhisperer Ohh yes, that makes sense. I still find it a bit weird that they didn't just place some windows but I guess it must be expensive 😢

[@everythingbyjanetdullaghan5122]

4:09 well what do we have

[@basstrip73]

How do time-consuming and annoying airport-style security and document checks lower the price of a ticket? Is this what RENFE or the station authorities are claiming? That sounds like lame propaganda to justify unnecessarily inconveniencing customers🙄 It's not like there is a huge terrorist threat or some other dangerous situation that makes such a thing necessary. I wonder what kind of strange drugs the people who come up with these poorly thought out plans are smoking🤪 Thanks for letting me get this off my chest...great video as always👍

[@AML2000]

Four trains were bombed in Madrid in a terrorist attack in 2003 killing 193 people and injuring around 2,000. That's why there's ID checks on Spanish trains.

[@tmigmart]

In today's world I don't think that the problem of the windows is not so important. I like to sit by a window and look outside from the train to see the landscape, but everytime I use a train about 99% of the passangers have their heads dug up in a cell phone or a tablet, working or watching movies on a pc and sleeping. They don't care about landscape, in fact if the train doesn't had any windows I think the majority of people did not notice that...

[@1989dip]

I am new in Europe and I want to book a train ticket from Vienna to Frankfurt . So can you please help me with the websites where I can book train tickets easily...????

[@tinkwilkinson9446]

Co2 feeds plants, how is that bad?

[@AML2000]

Glucose is used by the body for fuel. Too much though and you get diabetes. Same with CO2. Too much and you get global warming.

[@tinkwilkinson9446]

@@AML2000 and in our history more growth for food for humans. How much is too much? Data or rhetoric?

[@AML2000]

@@tinkwilkinson9446 Sorry -- I didn't realize you were a climate change denier. Needless to say your statements are notable for their lack of data. I won't be continuing this conversation.

[@tinkwilkinson9446]

@@AML2000 Scared of real data? You only use rhetoric as their is no data.

[@folkeklarstrom3668]

@@tinkwilkinson9446 A LOT of co2 is not caught by plants a rises into the atmosphere and creates a thick layer of gases wich traps too much heat for it to be good for our planet.

[@tjittekamminga5170]

stunning express train and very cheap fare indeed!

[@Greenpickles987]

0:45 ?