The new services and capacity enhancements under Renfe’s Galicia Plan came into effect on Thursday 15 October, with the aim of expanding capacity and travel options on the Vigo–Santiago–A Coruña Atlantic Axis and on the Ourense–Santiago–A Coruña Avant services. The operator estimates an increase of more than 24% in seats on the Atlantic corridor and 6% on the Ourense connection.
More capacity on the Atlantic Axis
The most visible measure is the introduction of Series 106 trainsets, each offering more than 500 seats, on Media Distancia services that had previously been operated with lower-capacity rolling stock. Train 9073, the 07:00 A Coruña–Vigo service, will now be operated by a Series 106 unit, while the 08:00 service 9083 will be strengthened through the use of a double formation.
Renfe has also introduced a new 09:00 Vigo Urzáiz–A Coruña service, likewise operated by a Series 106 trainset with more than 500 seats, and a 20:00 A Coruña–Vigo Urzáiz service to improve the evening offering. In addition, trains 9123 and 9132 will also be operated with Series 106 stock, with departures brought forward to 11:30 and 13:15 respectively.
The operator is retaining double-formation reinforcements on services 9072, 9112 and 9153, which provide 564 seats compared with 282 in a single formation. It is also making use of synergised capacity on AVE service 4464, which departs Vigo at 06:00 for Madrid, to sell Media Distancia tickets between Vigo and Santiago.
Timetable changes and Avant
The new timetable includes schedule adjustments: service 9113 from A Coruña to Vigo Urzáiz now departs at 10:30, while service 9213 departs at 22:05, compared with the previous 21:40. This reorganisation makes it possible to accommodate passengers from Regional services 12560 and 12561 between A Coruña and Santiago, which have been withdrawn.
On the conventional A Coruña–Vigo Guixar corridor, Renfe is applying minor adjustments to Regional service timetables to align them with actual journey times and improve punctuality. On the Ourense–Santiago–A Coruña Avant corridor, the operator is introducing three new services using available capacity on AVE services, adding more than 2,000 additional seats per week.
A muted reception among passengers
Despite the increase in capacity, the implementation of the Galicia Plan went largely unnoticed by many users at Santiago station. Several passengers interviewed by El Correo Gallego said that trains are still selling out in advance, particularly on Fridays, and that delays remain their main concern.
One passenger who regularly travels to A Coruña was waiting for a train running around 20 minutes late and said that some services are already fully booked two weeks ahead. Another daily commuter found that their 07:15 train was operating with eight carriages, but was unable to find a ticket for the option they needed and had to wait two hours in Santiago.
Two other passengers interviewed by the Galician newspaper also agreed that the improvement is not immediately apparent, and identified punctuality as the issue Renfe must address as a priority.
In addition, Alferro has raised safety concerns regarding Series 106 and 121 trains in double formation. The union says that safety regulations for crossing the Das Maceiras tunnel are not being met owing to a shortage of staff.
The Galicia Plan has only just begun, and it will now have to demonstrate whether the additional capacity effectively relieves peak-hour demand and reduces pressure on one of Galicia’s busiest Media Distancia routes.