Spain’s state-owned railway company, Renfe, will establish a bus operation to mitigate service disruptions anticipated from extensive infrastructure upgrades planned over the coming years, the company announced Tuesday.
The move comes as public confidence in the rail network has waned following a fatal train accident in Adamuz, Córdoba, in January. Reports in the Spanish press indicate a slowdown in ticket demand since the incident. The new bus company will operate on routes where rail traffic is suspended due to the infrastructure function, such as the current suspension of AVE high-speed train service between Málaga and Antequera, where passengers are currently being transported by bus or regional Rodalies services.
Renfe will hold a 49 percent stake in the new company, while an unnamed bus operator, awarded a 10-year contract with a potential five-year extension, will control the remaining 51 percent. The company will employ its own drivers and operate a fleet of between 50 and 100 coaches, according to Spanish daily El País.
A Renfe statement explained that traditional tendering processes have proven inadequate to address the scale of anticipated disruptions, citing a shortage of available buses, a lack of drivers, limited competition in tenders, and difficulties in securing sufficient resources in a market where buses are already committed to regular services. The company anticipates increased disruptions due to “unprecedented growth in infrastructure improvement works” planned by Adif, Spain’s railway infrastructure administrator.
These projects include the renovation of the Madrid-Barcelona high-speed line, with work scheduled to begin shortly on the Madrid-Zaragoza section. Renfe stated it is the only one of Spain’s three high-speed rail operators currently implementing alternative plans to maintain service continuity.
The company highlighted its ability to provide replacement bus services between Madrid and Málaga following storm damage in February, while competitors Ouigo and Iryo awaited Adif’s completion of reconstruction work. The creation of the bus company is estimated to cost €61.5 million, but Renfe projects annual savings of between €9 million and €13 million compared to current ad hoc bus hire arrangements.
Córdoba Central station, a key junction in the Spanish rail network, connects Madrid, Seville, Málaga, Granada, Barcelona, Cádiz, and Jaén. The station handled over 20.2 million passengers in 2024, according to Adif data. The station offers amenities including cafés, restaurants, and ticket machines, but does not currently offer on-site luggage storage, though nearby options are available.
Renfe’s decision to create its own bus company comes as Adif continues to address speed restrictions imposed on various sections of the rail network, which have led to delays. Tickets purchased after January 31, 2026, will not be eligible for compensation when delays are attributable to these speed limitations, Renfe has stated.
