Renfe’s low-cost high-speed train service in Spain is called Avlo.
Avlo is operated by Renfe, Spain’s national railway company. The name is derived from “Alta Velocidad Low Cost,” combining the Spanish phrase for high speed with the English expression “low cost.” It was created to offer cheaper travel on Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network, alongside Renfe’s standard AVE services.
Renfe announced the concept in 2018, initially using the provisional name “eva.” The Avlo brand was unveiled in December 2019, but the planned 2020 launch was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Services eventually began between Madrid and Barcelona on June 23, 2021, with promotional fares starting at €5.
Avlo is not the same as Avant, which is Renfe’s shorter-distance high-speed service. Ouigo España is a competing low-cost brand operated by France’s SNCF, while Iryo is a separate open-access operator backed by companies including Trenitalia. Avlo trains generally use high-capacity, all-second-class configurations.