Renfe Carries Record 277.4 Million Passengers in First Half of 2025

Spanish rail operator Renfe transported 277.4 million passengers between January and June 2025, setting a new ridership record.

These figures mark a 3% increase compared with the same period in 2024, when 269.1 million passengers were recorded. The numbers cover both its commercial and public service rail networks.

Renfe reports that over 17.9 million passengers travelled on its AVE and long-distance services (including Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, and Intercity) during the first half of the year. This represents an increase of 10.9% or nearly 1.8 million additional travellers compared with the first six months of 2024.

The company noted a particular peak on 20 June 2025, when more than 135,600 passengers used its commercial services in a single day. This was an increase of 5.58% compared with a similar high point recorded just over a month earlier. The growth has been linked to expanded service options, notably on the Galicia–Castile and León–Madrid and Extremadura–Madrid routes.

Renfe attributes the rising passenger numbers to several operational changes. These include increased service frequency, shorter journey times, and higher capacity, assisted by the introduction of new S106 AVE and Avlo train units. These newer trains have replaced some of the traditional Alvia rolling stock.

Of the total passengers recorded in the first half of 2025, more than 259.5 million travelled on Renfe’s public service trains, including Cercanías, Media Distancia, Ancho Métrico, and Avant services. This figure shows a 2.8% increase from the 252.4 million passengers recorded in the same period in 2024, equating to around 7 million additional users.

Within public services, Cercanías accounted for more than 235.9 million journeys, up 3.91% or over 8.8 million more passengers than the first half of 2024. Avant services carried more than 6.7 million passengers, reflecting a 2.09% increase, with over 139,000 additional travellers.

Fare Schemes

Since the introduction of Spain’s railfare assistance scheme for frequent travellers in September 2022, Renfe has issued more than 21 million multitrip passes. The scheme offers free or discounted passes and has shown consistent year-on-year growth: 7.1 million passes were issued in 2023, rising to 7.7 million in 2024, an increase of 9.34%. By mid-2025, over 4 million such passes had already been distributed.

With the conclusion of the free recurring-pass initiative, a new discounted pass system has been introduced. From 1 July 2025, Renfe offers unified passes for Cercanías, Rodalies, and Media Distancia services, priced at 20 EUR per month, or 10 EUR for young people born between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2010. These passes allow unlimited travel across all zones and networks in Spain.

Renfe indicates that the combination of service changes and ticketing initiatives has contributed to the growth in passenger numbers across both commercial and public service categories.