uigo and Iryo have commissioned KPMG to analyse a proposal to cut by €119.3 million a year the mark-ups applied to the rail infrastructure charges paid by operators, including Renfe.
The study puts the additional reduction beyond that proposed by Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) at €104.3 million, on top of the €15 million already recommended by the regulator. The consultancy firm argues that mark-ups intended to cover fixed, financing and depreciation costs should only be applied when the market is able to absorb them.
The proposal follows a loss of demand caused by disruption affecting services to Málaga and Seville, resulting from the Adamuz accident, the Álora landslip and temporary speed restrictions on the Madrid–Barcelona route. On the latter corridor, journey times have increased by 25 minutes because of the condition of the infrastructure.
KPMG calculates that the Madrid–Barcelona mark-up should be reduced by €2.72 per train-kilometre, compared with the €0.42 proposed by the CNMC. It also proposes larger reductions on the Madrid–Málaga, Madrid–Valencia and Madrid–Alicante routes, where it is calling for the mark-up to be scrapped.
The new charging framework for 2026–2028 is still awaiting an opinion from the Council of State and final approval. The CNMC has also called for temporary adjustments for as long as the speed restrictions remain in force.