From 9 June, Renfe will add a third Alvia between Madrid and Badajoz, without a stop in Mérida, taking advantage of the commissioning of the new bypass.
This new service will improve the long-distance train service in Extremadura. According to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, it will only stop in Plasencia, Cáceres and Badajoz. Like the two current Alvia trains, it will use series 730 trains.
Thanks to the new infrastructure, which avoids entering the Mérida station and requiring a turn, the journey between Badajoz and Cáceres will take only 46 minutes, almost half the time it takes by road (89 minutes at legal speed).
This third Alvia will depart Monday to Friday from Badajoz at 6:36 a.m. and arrive at Madrid-Atocha at 10:46 a.m., one hour earlier than the current first train, thus facilitating professional and administrative journeys.
The return from Madrid will be at 18:09, except on Saturdays, when departure will be from Badajoz at 18:10.
The new service will offer 3,144 additional weekly seats, bringing the total number of seats on the line to more than 9,400 and the number of weekly services between Extremadura and Madrid to 36. Tickets will go on sale soon.