IRYO to Alacant

On 2 June 2023 Iryo inaugurated its new service from Madrid to Albacete and Alacant, almost a decade after the high speed network reached the port and resort on the Costa Blanca (17 June 2013). There are two departures daily from Madrid-Chamartín, at 07.45 and 15.45, and from Alacant at 12.25 and 19.35. In the future a second intermediate stop at Cuenca is to be introduced.

From the same day, Iryo trains serving Málaga were schedulerd to make a further intermediate stop at Antequera, while from 15 June trains on the Madrid to Barcelona service are to serve Camp de Tarragona. The result is that Iryo trains now serve 12 principal origins and destinations.

Tne inaugural service to Alacant was the 07.45 from Madrid-Chamartín, reaching Alacant at 10.10. On board was MITMA Secretary General Xavier Flores The train was greeted there by Luis Barcala, mayor of Alacant, Mari Carmen Sánchez, Alacant's vice-mayoress, and a media reception was held in the 13th century Castillo de Santa Bárbara, also attended by representatives from the tourism sector, Adif and the CNMC.

Luis Barcala observed: "Iryo's arrival is a great piece of news, since it results in an increase in connectivity for Alacant, the tenth largest city in Spain. The date of this inauguration could not be more appropriate, since we are now poised to enter the tourism high season. It also coincides with the city's official fiestas, Las Hogueras, which is recognised as being of international tourism value."

Iryo CEO Simone Gorini stated that: "On 17 June 2013 the high speed line to Alacant was inaugurated. Ten years later, and thanks to the liberalisation of the high speed rail passenger market, IRYO's service network has expanded to include both Alacant and Antequera. We want to attract even more passengers, focusing on sustainable mobility and a real modal shift in Spanish mobility."