Avant (train)
{{Short description|Spanish railway service operated by Renfe}}
{{Infobox rail company
| name = Renfe Avant
| image = Zaragoza_-_Delicias_7_-_Avant.JPG
| franchise =
| logo = Avant.svg
| nameforarea = station
| abbr =
| regions =
| secregions =
| fleet = {{ill|Avant S-104|es|Serie 104 de Renfe}}
{{ill|Avant S-114|es|Serie 114 de Renfe}}
Avant S-121
| stations =
| length =
| parent_company = Renfe
| website = {{URL|https://www.renfe.com/es/en/travel/prepare-your-trip/trains-mid-distance-avant}}
| gauge = Standard (1435 mm), Iberian (1668 mm) (only in Galicia)
| old_gauge =
| el = 25 kV AC (some sections on 3 kV DC network)
| map =
}}
Avant is a high-speed, medium-distance passenger transport rail service, operated in Spain by the Spanish public company Renfe.{{cite web|url=https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/serviciosdeprensa/notasprensa/transportes/Paginas/2023/160623-ampliacion-bonos-avant-renfe.aspx|title=Transportes, Movilidad y Agenda Urbana amplía la caducidad de los bonos Avant de Renfe con carácter permanente |website=www.lamoncloa.gob.es|language=es|date=16 June 2023|access-date=13 November 2023}} Avant services circulate at a maximum speed of {{cvt|250|km/h|mph}}, compared to the {{cvt|300|km/h|mph}} maximum speed of the AVE service. Their routes usually cover different provinces within the same autonomous community or between neighboring ones. Regional services at conventional speed are called Renfe Media Distancia.{{cite web|url=https://www.spain-traveller.com/en/renfe-spain/ |title=Renfe: Spain's state-owned railway company |website=www.spain-traveller.com |date=4 April 2023 |access-date=23 November 2023}}
Avant services are carried out by series 104, 114 and 121 trainsets, in a single class configuration without a cafeteria (except in some series 104 units).
History
In October 1992, a new high-speed medium distance service (AV Media Distancia operating under the AVE Lanzadera brand) began between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Puertollano, using spare class 100 trains.{{cite news|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/empresas/2017-08-04/alta-velocidad-renfe-aniversario-ave-avant_1423659/|title=25 años de alta velocidad: así cambió la forma de viajar de 35,2 millones de españoles |website=www.elconfidencial.com El Confidencial|language=es|date=4 August 2017| access-date=16 November 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.madridiario.es/noticia/448897/transportes/avant-25-anos-uniendo-personas.html|title=Avant, 25 años uniendo personas |website=www.madridiario.es|language=es|date=9 October 2017| access-date=31 October 2023}} In November 2003 a new service began between Seville and Córdoba using new class 104 trains,{{cite web|url=http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/nuestros_trenes/avant114_ficha.html|title=Our Trains|website=www.renfe.com|language=en-UK|access-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109174815/http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/nuestros_trenes/avant114_ficha.html|archive-date=9 November 2016|url-status=dead}} reducing journey times between the two cities to 40 minutes.
In 2004 the brand was renamed RENFE Avant, and all services started to use {{ill|Avant S-104|es|Serie 104 de Renfe}} trains, leaving class 100 for AVE services.{{cite web|url=https://www.adifaltavelocidad.es/-/lav-madrid-sevilla-historia|title=Línea Madrid – Sevilla |website=www.adifaltavelocidad.es|language=es|access-date=31 October 2023}}
The construction of a {{convert|21|km|adj=on}} stretch of high-speed line from Madrid to Toledo allowed the inauguration of a medium distance service in November 2005. The journey time between the two cities is now less than 30 minutes.{{cite web|url=https://www.latribunadetoledo.es/noticia/za3de6bda-b122-748f-7279aad85eb3de5e/202211/avant-toledo-madrid-235-millones-de-viajeros-en-17-anos|title=Avant Toledo-Madrid: 23,5 millones de viajeros en 17 años|website=www.latribunadetoledo.es|language=es|date=14 November 2022|access-date=31 October 2023}} The high-speed link combined with high property prices in Madrid has encouraged many Madrid commuters to settle in Ciudad Real, the first stop on the Madrid–Seville line. There has, however, been controversy over the construction of this line as the change to standard-gauge track meant that towns such as Getafe, Aranjuez and Algodor, which now have no commercial services, lost their direct services to Toledo. Furthermore, since Toledo is now connected by standard-gauge track it is impossible for other passenger or goods trains to reach it that have not come from other high-speed lines.
Further Avant services have been launched since then with the expansion of the high-speed lines to Valladolid, Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia, Granada, Murcia and Galicia.{{cite news|url=https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/renfe-avant-trains-granada-20220728171452-nt.html|title=Renfe increases frequency of Avant Malaga-Granada trains |website=www.surinenglish.com |date=29 July 2022| access-date=23 November 2023}}{{cite news|url=https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/renfe-launches-granada-seville-high-speed-service/
|title=Renfe launches Granada - Seville high-speed service |website=www.railjournal.com |date=18 February 2020| access-date=23 November 2023}}
Services
File:Servicios avant en españa.svg
{{As of|2024}} Renfe offers the following Avant services:{{cite web |url=https://www.renfe.com/es/es/viajar/informacion-util/mapas-y-lineas/media-distancia-y-avant |title=Mapas de líneas |access-date=12 May 2023 |publisher=Renfe}}
- A Coruña–Santiago de Compostela–Ourense.
- Barcelona−Girona.
- Barcelona−Girona−Figueres.
- Barcelona–Tarragona–Lleida.
- Barcelona–Tortosa via Camp de Tarragona, Cambrils, L'Hospitalet de l'Infant, L'Ametlla de Mar, L'Ampolla-Perelló-Deltebre and L'Aldea-Amposta.{{cite news |url=https://rodalies.gencat.cat/es/detalls/article/09_20_Avant | title= Renfe recupera el servicio Avant Exprés entre Tortosa y Barcelona a partir del 1 de octubre | language=es| website= rodalies.gencat.cat | date=20 September 2024| access-date=24 December 2024}}
- Calatayud–Zaragoza.
- Granada–Córdoba–Seville via Loja, Antequera and Puente Genil-Herrera.
- Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
- Madrid–Segovia–Valladolid.
- Madrid–Toledo.
- Málaga–Córdoba–Seville via Antequera and Puente Genil-Herrera.
- Málaga–Granada via Antequera and Loja.
- Murcia–Alicante via Beniel, Orihuela, Callosa Cox and Elx.{{cite news |url=https://alicanteplaza.es/renfe-incorpora-los-trenes-avant-en-la-linea-alicante-murcia-50-minutos-de-viaje-y-cuatro-paradas | title=Renfe incorpora los trenes Avant en la línea Alicante-Murcia: 50 minutos de viaje y cuatro paradas | language=es| website=alicanteplaza.es| date=14 December 2022| access-date=24 November 2023}}
- Ourense–Santiago de Compostela–A Coruña.
- Toledo–Madrid–Albacete via Cuenca.
- Valencia–Requena Utiel.
Former services:
- Zaragoza–Huesca via Tardienta.{{cite news |url=https://www.europapress.es/aragon/noticia-elboj-pide-reunirse-gobierno-aragon-conocer-renfe-quiere-suprimir-avant-huesca-zaragoza-20090922174648.html | title= Elboj pide reunirse con el Gobierno de Aragón tras conocer que Renfe quiere suprimir los Avant entre Huesca y Zaragoza | language=es| website=www.europapress.es| date=22 September 2009| access-date=24 November 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://cadenaser.com/aragon/primeras-criticas-a-la-supresion-de-los-avant-huesca-zaragoza-radio-huesca/ | title= Primeras críticas a la supresión de los Avant Huesca-Zaragoza | language=es| website=cadenaser.com| date=14 March 2018| access-date=24 November 2023}}
- A Coruña–Vigo via Santiago de Compostela {{cite web|url=http://www.laopinioncoruna.es/galicia/2015/04/15/renfe-estrena-eje-atlantico-sabado/946523.html |title=Renfe estrena el Eje Atlántico el sábado con una rebaja del 50% en las tarifas|author=C. Prego |date=15 April 2015|work=La Opinion A Coruña|access-date=19 August 2024}}
Trains
File:Zaragoza - Delicias 7 - Avant.JPG
File:Serie 114 de Renfe en Valladolid-Campo Grande.jpg
Currently, there are the following series of high-speed trains that run the Avant service:{{cite web|url=https://www.renfe.com/es/es/grupo-renfe/grupo-renfe/flota-de-trenes|title=Flota de trenes|website=www.renfe.com|language=es|access-date=31 October 2023}}
- {{ill|Avant S-104|es|Serie 104 de Renfe}}, manufactured by Alstom and CAF
- {{ill|Avant S-114|es|Serie 114 de Renfe}}, manufactured by Alstom and CAF
- Avant S-121, manufactured by CAF and Alstom
Both Avant class 104 and class 114 trains are Pendolino designs, without tilting capacity:
See also
=High-speed rail services in Spain=
=Rail infrastructure in Spain and Europe=
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|High-speed rail in Spain}}
Category:Avant high-speed trains
Category:High-speed rail in Spain
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