Traveling FIRST CLASS on the best HIGH-SPEED train in Europe! Iryo Infinita Class review

Today, I'm checking out Iryo, an open-access train operator in Spain, which might just be the best high-speed train I've ever traveled on. Join me as I take you on a journey with them and show you all the excellent onboard dining, features, and amenities as we travel from Madrid to Barcelona at speeds of up to 300 km/h. I opted for first class, which Iryo calls Infinita, so come along for an exciting journey!
Follow me on Twitter / intercitysimon
Train type: Frecciarossa 1000
Route: Madrid Atocha - Barcelona Sants
Train: Iryo 6131
Distance: 626 km
Journey time: 2h45m
Average speed: 227 km/H
Price: 70 euro

[@jorgyjojo3581]

I actually find their seats a bit more uncomfortable than the renfe AVE ones. At Iryo the seats barely recline and half of the seats are not oriented on the direction of the movement unlike renfe where they turn them around every time the train changes direction

[@Simon-Andersen]

It will always be personal prefrence, i don't recline on daytrains and have no issues with facing backwards, so it was not something i noticed :D

[@JackHawkin5]

The best thing about all of this is the amazing value for money for the tickets as well. I wish we could have this level of train service all over Europe and in the UK.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Its incredible what the copetition on high speed rail in spain has done to prices!

[@interamerica6027]

Unfortunately, I found their Infinita seats to be stiff and very minimal recline, which made it hard to take a nap on.

[@paulthiel5145]

Just a shame they didn't incorporate the executive class on this train in the same way they have on the Italian sister trains.

[@Simon-Andersen]

That would have been great as well!

[@JBS319]

Iryo doesn't accept Interrail or Eurail passes, so for some travelers, Ave will probably still be the way to go.

[@Simon-Andersen]

I would not use Eurail/Interrail in Spain as it isn't really good value in Spain, the fees are high, most trains require reservation and the booking process is inconvenient on Renfe. I’d rather book my trips in Spain a few days in advance with normal tickets as they are cheap, so it will likely be cheaper than the value of a travel day + the reservation fee.

[@markmbalagtas2230]

Watching all these videos, I just wish America developed the railway system in tandem with the highway system 😞

[@Simon-Andersen]

Unfortunatly the only place with that in the US seems to be along the north east corridor :(

[@markmbalagtas2230]

Samon-Andersen if you're lucky. Acela trains are getting old. The new bright line in Florida is promising but they spent billions of dollars building the rail system

[@BeeView]

Almost everything is good on Iryo, except for the first class seats, they are very uncomfortable, very hard, and can lean back very little.

[@TheTravelGuy-00]

I’ll be on this same train and location in August. How are they with luggage? Do they actually measure the size of the bigger suitcases?

[@Simon-Andersen]

As long as you can carry your luggage yourself, no one is gonna measure on iryo

[@lorenzo_de_paolis]

in reality the Frecciarossa 1000 can travel commercially at up to 400 km/h, however in Spain it is limited to 300

[@Simon-Andersen]

Good point!

[@lorenzo_de_paolis]

@@Simon-Andersen Do you know that in Italy a new company was born (still under Trenitalia) called TTI which will only make tourist trains, so with train travel, the trains used will be historic such as the Arlecchino

[@DIASDEMUSICA]

Nope. Its max APPROVED speed is 360 km/h (able to reach 380 km/h commercially and 400 by design) but there´s no opperators running it at such speeds

[@ryanlaffan7064]

Do you think Infinita was worth paying a little more for?

[@Simon-Andersen]

Yes, better seat, and the ability to get a nice meal!

[@TuomasLeone]

I just booked a ticket on this train for later this summer, really looking forward to it. Just a note, that now it does seem that the Iryo site does show you the direction of travel when you get to the seat selection part of the booking. Although it does give the caveat that it is subject to change. I'm grateful that they also offer a vegan dining option.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Ah cool, thats a nice new feature to their website! I hope you have a great trip

[@mariadelmarjimenezarroyo]

This is what I deserved. This was a very good video. Congrats

[@Simon-Andersen]

Glad you enjoyed it! I know you been waiting a long time for this one

[@gbalao8885]

“Spanish Shinkansen”

[@tryndaweniger8788]

Wait why do you get a hot towel first thing when the journey starts? I don't understand lol thats seems super random

[@Simon-Andersen]

It's to clean your hands before the meal and feel a bit more refreshed 😄

[@raymurphyii]

Loved this video! Your are correct on Renfe's website!

[@Simon-Andersen]

I don't have any plans to visit Israel atm, but i already have made some videos on my channel about the Jerusalem line and the IC3 :D

[@CristianTituRaicu]

Hi from Spain, isn't spanish train, it's Italian, Frecciarosa.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Yeah the train model is Italian :-)

[@physics2explained]

Congrats

[@MrPoesia1]

Thank you for the great review, i booked 4 seats for July from Madrid to Valencia, we are a family, riding first class with the meals, only problem 3 seats are on the same row, but the 4rth seat is in another row. Any way to get 4 strait row seating?

[@dsdonovan]

Hahaha "cough...RENFE"!

[@BobbyAltschuler]

Hello Simon , while booking the ticket, did you know in which direction the train will be traveling? While booking travel on Iryo Barcelona to Madrid, seats were assigned, but it’s not clear from the seat map which way I will be traveling once the train departs the station. I prefer to face the direction of travel. Thank you for all the information you provide.

[@Simon-Andersen]

Hi unfortunately I don't think there is a way to know with iryo as the seat selection seems a bit random

[@BobbyAltschuler]

Thank you very much for your reply

[@raymondleongdiva]

I did it last week from Paris to Barcelona and yes it was awesome but despite high speed it's a tad too long for me...😅❤

[@tarkatan971]

you gotta try some Turkish trains my dude. I'm from Turkey so I am asking for it🙈❤️

[@CristianTituRaicu]

Pathetic compared with West European

[@Simon-Andersen]

Turkey is high on my list of places to visit, maybe next year!

[@prettymiffedbrit]

😂😂😂 So true about Renfe!

[@PointOfTrips]

The comfort of these trains are really high. And, specially, the great value for money, but I don't know how long these prices will last.

[@Simon-Andersen]

I think as long as all 4 continue to compete these fares are here to stay

[@josevera5094]

It is unfortunate that spanish media refer to Iryo as a low-cost operator even though they offer same of better service than renfe; and at a much lower price. Iryo has struggled to make profit (well they aren´t even a year inside the market). I believe they have failed (or are in the process) of stablishing their brand name. Hope they are able to make it work though :D

[@Simon-Andersen]

I hope they survive too!

[@hogyndrwg6253]

We could do with Iryo as an open-access operator in the U.K. ... provided, of course, they offered identical fare flexibility and value for money, as well as the same levels of comfort. The seats on GWR's new inter-city trains are something to be endured, even in first class, while the fares are so extortionate they really ought to provoke riots in the streets!

[@pablofernandez3284]

The problem in UK is that doesn't have high velocity infrastructure. In Spain the speed for security is 300 km per hour. But the trains would be able to go 360 km.

[@Kot-fj6hc]

We've begun slightly with Lumo on the ECML but we need many more.

[@payalamitgupta2986]

Do we need to book our meal prior if we have infinita bistro tickets or we can choose our meal during the journey?

[@Simon-Andersen]

You can choose you just risk them having run out of one of the options :-)

[@Leotheexploreryt]

I been on one

[@Simon-Andersen]

I hope it was a good trip!

[@Leotheexploreryt]

@@Simon-Andersen yeh

[@samtrak1204]

Thanks for sharing some useful information and beautifuly phtography. I'm flying from Washington, DC to Barcelona in January 2024 and will do day trip to Madrid to sample and compare first class on both Iryo and Renfe. Can I book Renfe ticket on Iryo webside? I like the two seater with a table in the middle of the car. Do you inow the seat numbers or do I get to choose my seats when I book on Trainline or RailEurope or Iryo? Any suggestions?

[@Simon-Andersen]

No you cant book renfe ticket on iryo website. Id book direct with each operator. On Iryo you cant chose your own seat, i was just assigned one at random. On renfe you can pick your seat for a small fee, 2 euro iirc. I have no expirence with trainline or raileurope

[@samtrak1204]

@@Simon-Andersen Thank you.

[@mikkelank]

Hej med dig

[@Simon-Andersen]

Hejsa

[@mikkelank]

@@Simon-Andersen hej jeg er I skole

[@Dougie2945c]

Travelling to Madrid from Malaga on Iryo this coming Monday and so looking forward for my first ride on Iryo

[@terencegalland]

70 euros is that for return journey or single journey Simon

[@Simon-Andersen]

That was one way / single :-)

[@johnalder6028]

Vert nice ! What was in the little bottle than came with your meal?

[@bpeezy2254]

Almost certainly olive oil

[@johnalder6028]

​@@bpeezy2254thank you!

[@Simon-Andersen]

Indeed it was Olive oil!

[@johnalder6028]

@@Simon-Andersen Thank you. It looks so much like the little bottles of liquor you get on Amtrak.

[@Mr.Pufferfish.]

Jeg har lige været i Barcelona

[@Simon-Andersen]

Håber det var en god tur!

[@Mr.Pufferfish.]

@@Simon-Andersen det var det.

[@petter5721]

Payed by European Union member states 😡

[@wewillrockyou1986]

Spain needed this kind of open access competition because of the godawful service Renfe offers, however I think they really should move to a proper clock face time table and Adif needs to scrap the security checks. Taking the train in most of Spain is a chore because of the irregular service, lack of flexibility, and things like the security checks and long boarding processes in the larger stations.

[@devindrome]

I've only ever had really good experiences on Renfe, but to be fair my only other experience is with France's SNCF. Going to book an IRYO from Madrid to Sevilla this summer to try it out, though.