The National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) has approved a resolution that will allow That provide two new routes between Madrid and Cuenca and Albacete, another between these last two cities and a quarter between Barcelona and Camp de Tarragona.
The company has informed CNMC of its interest in operating these services, which coincide with the routes that Renfe already provides as a public service through the Avant and Media Distancia trains, so the regulator has had to address this possible risk to the public procurement. with Renfe.
According to the competitive analysis, the services of Conventional middle distance (OSP) offered by Renfe do not replace Iryo High Speed, because they last longer.
As for the Avant, it concludes like this yes they can be replaced by the new services offered by Iryo if you take into account their technical characteristics, but not in terms of frequencies or prices.
concretely, the Avants have more frequencies than the Iryo trains and the prices of public service multi-journey passes are more competitive than the prices set by Iryo, which for now remain confidential.
The only commute where Iryo’s high-speed competes with public services is the Barcelona-Camp de Tarragonawith a lower price than the single ticket for Avant services by Renfe. However, CNMC believes that the expected impact on Renfe’s revenues would not reach 0.003% of the total contract, less than the 1% established in the methodology for concluding that new services could have a significant impact on the contract.
On the other hand, remember this Renfe already operates new commercial high-speed services under Avlo’s “low cost” brand at lower prices than Avant services, also provided by Renfe and subject to public service obligations, unlike commercial services such as Avlo or AVE.
Indeed, CNMC took advantage of this resolution to remind Renfe that it must notify it of changes to its commercial services which coincide with a route subject to public service obligations.
