A significant increase in rail traffic
Rail traffic between Madrid and Extremadura has seen dramatic growth in 2023, with an increase of 120.2%. This increase has occurred mainly due to the entry into operation of the high-performance line between Plasencia and Badajoz. This line, although currently operating in electric mode, is not yet high speed as it lacks the necessary safety systems. According to data from the Railway Infrastructure Administrator (Adif), at the end of 2023 a total of 423,000 train-kilometres have been traveled, compared to 192,000 the previous year.
The biggest growth of all railway axes
This increase in rail traffic between Madrid and Extremadura is the largest of all rail lines in Spain, surpassing the Madrid-Levant line by 68%. However, it should be noted that in absolute terms, the 423,000 kilometers traveled by trains between Madrid and Badajoz are the lowest in the country. The inclusion of the Extremadura railway axis in the report is due to the fact that the State Administration considers it to be high-speed, although it is not.
Record figures at national level
Nationally, rail traffic has reached a record 201 million train-kilometers in 2023, surpassing by 1.8% the previous all-time high recorded in 2019 before the pandemic. In addition, the number of travelers has experienced an increase of 6.1% compared to the previous year. In long-distance services, there has been a 35% increase in the number of passengers, while in intercity and urban services, the growth has been 41.2% and 0.25% respectively.
Factors that explain this growth
This growth in rail traffic can be explained by several factors. First, the entry of new operators driven by the market liberalization process has contributed to the increase in traffic. Secondly, the recovery of traffic after the pandemic has had a positive impact on the number of passengers. Finally, the commissioning of new high-speed lines, which already exceed 4,000 kilometers, has contributed to making the Spanish railway network the most extensive in Europe.