Renfe closed the first half of 2025 with its highest-ever number of passengers for a six-month period: a total of 277.4 million travelers used its services between January and June 2025, representing a 3% increase, that is, 8.3 million more passengers, compared to the same period in 2024, when 269.1 million passengers were recorded.
This is the highest half-yearly figure in the company’s historical records and includes both commercial services (AVE, Avlo, Alvia, Euromed, and Intercity) and public services (Cercanías, Media Distancia, Ancho Métrico, and Avant).
In the first six months of the year, more than 17.9 million passengers used Renfe’s high-speed (AVE and Avlo) and long-distance (Alvia, Euromed, Intercity) trains, an increase of 10.9% (almost 1.8 million more travelers) compared to the same period in 2024.
This growth was accompanied by several positive indicators, including a new daily record set on June 20, when more than 135,600 people traveled on Renfe’s commercial services. That figure represents an increase of over 7,170 users (5.58%) in just over a month, driven by new service offerings on the Galicia–Castile and León–Madrid and Extremadura–Madrid corridors.
Renfe’s recent reorganization of services has supported this upward trend. Improvements in frequency, reduced travel times, and increased seating capacity, thanks to the introduction of new S106 AVE and Avlo trains, replacing traditional Alvia units, have all played a key role in this growth.
Growth in Public Services
Renfe also transported more than 259.5 million passengers on its public services (Cercanías, Media Distancia, Ancho Métrico, and Avant) through the end of June, representing a 2.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (252.4 million passengers) — highlighting the continued growth and consolidation of Renfe’s public offerings, with over 7 million new users.
Of the total, more than 235.9 million correspond to Cercanías services, which saw 3.91% growth (an increase of over 8.8 million passengers). Avant services were used by more than 6.7 million passengers, a 2.09% increase (over 139,000 additional travelers) compared to the first half of 2024.
Since the launch of Spain’s railfare assistance scheme for frequent travelers in September 2022, Renfe has issued over 21 million multitrip passes.
In nearly three years of offering free or discounted passes, multitrip pass issuance has steadily increased. In 2023, the first full calendar year of the free-pass initiative, 7.1 million passes were issued. In 2024, the total rose to 7.7 million, a 9.34% increase. In 2025, over 4 million free or discounted passes have already been issued.
With the end of the free recurring-pass scheme, a new model of discounted passes has been introduced, offering favorable conditions for travelers. On June 23, Renfe began selling new unified passes for Cercanías, Rodalies, and Media Distancia, which allow unlimited travel across all zones and networks in Spain starting July 1. The passes are priced at €20 per month, and €10 for young people born between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2010.