New Integrated Travel Solution Enhances Connectivity in Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol has taken a significant step towards improving travel comfort and affordability between Madrid, Marbella, Estepona, and three other coastal cities in the province of Málaga. Iryo, a private high-speed train operator, and Avanza, a bus company, have officially unveiled a new travel solution for customers traveling between these major destinations.
Together, they have launched a combined train and bus ticket service that allows passengers to easily traverse between Madrid and coastal cities—specifically Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona, Algeciras, and La Línea de la Concepción. This innovative collaboration integrates train and bus journeys into a single ticket, effectively reducing travel time between Madrid and Marbella to just four hours. This is thanks to the IryoConecta service, which encourages a more flexible and convenient travel experience.
As part of the announcement, Iryo, which offers ten daily train connections between Madrid and Málaga, will enhance its service with the addition of 20 daily buses to Marbella, 10 to Estepona, 6 to Fuengirola and Algeciras, and another 5 to La Línea de la Concepción. The result is an impressive total of more than 51 combined daily connections, with bus frequencies ranging from every 30 minutes to two hours depending on the destination.
The official signing ceremony for this partnership took place last week in Marbella, attended by key figures such as Iryo's CEO Simone Gorini, Avanza’s general director Valentín Alonso, and Marbella’s mayor Ángeles Muñoz. During this event, they expressed enthusiasm about the positive impact this initiative will have on the connectivity within Málaga.
"This is excellent news not only for the improvement in connectivity but also for the commitment to sustainable transport that benefits responsible tourism," stated Valentín Alonso. He emphasized that the alliance with Iryo represents a complete mobility solution underlining their commitment to improving public transport efficiency.
Travelers in Málaga will be able to enjoy seamless transfers from the Málaga bus station or nearby stops, ensuring a smooth start to their journeys. Simone Gorini highlighted that this joint initiative is about more than just moving passengers; it aims to provide integrated mobility where high-speed trains and various transportation methods work in tandem to create a more cohesive travel experience, especially in regions where high-speed access might be limited.
This agreement falls under Iryo's broader strategy, which has been in development for over six months. Currently, it integrates more than 700 connections that combine trains, buses, and other transport modes. Notably, travelers along this route have already begun to benefit from the new service that focuses on fare and operational integration rather than requiring new vehicles.
Gorini pointed out that this initiative is effective because Spaniards enjoy travel and appreciate various travel combinations. The next challenge will be to continue optimizing these connections while ensuring that traveling in Spain becomes faster and more accessible and that it reinforces a sustainable travel model.
As this exciting development unfolds, it portends not only progress in personal mobility but also a positive stride towards sustainable tourism in the beautiful Costa del Sol.
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