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Spain could debut a new way to travel by train in 2026, standing instead of sitting in exchange for a cheaper fare. The formula, already common in other European countries, might finally move from theory to reality after years of discussion.

 

Transport Minister Óscar Puente has publicly backed the idea, and Renfe president Álvaro Fernández Heredia confirmed in a recent interview that they're working on a pilot programme.

 

"We want to conduct a test to see when it would be feasible," he said, although no date has been set yet.

 

The trial will begin with medium-distance trains making shorter journeys where Renfe reckons there's enough space for passengers to stand without disturbing seated travellers. According to Fernández Heredia, medium-distance trains have between 5% and 10% spare capacity that could be allocated to passengers without assigned seats.

 

Sources familiar with the sector say the change would also require modifying insurance conditions that currently cover passengers based on their seat, so standing travellers would need to be included in the policy.

 

The idea of maximising train capacity by allowing standing passengers actually originated years ago with the High-Speed Rail Users Association of Castile and León.

 

"They called us crazy," recalls president Carlos Perfecto about proposing it when José Luis Ábalos was Transport Minister.

 

Renfe and the Ministry argue that the measure would give passengers the option of travelling standing on a full train at a reduced fare instead of having to wait for the next one. They point out that standing on trains is already normal in other European countries and even happens in Spain on the Rodalies network in Catalonia.

 

"People travel both sitting and standing, and nothing has happened," said the Renfe president.

 

In France, passengers on the Regional Express network generally buy tickets without a guaranteed seat. If the train appears full, they can board anyway and pay a reduced fare if they end up standing. Germany allows passengers to board both long-distance and regional trains even when seats are full, with travellers either finding available spots or standing.

 

However, not everyone in Spain is convinced that this is the way forward.

 

"I find it astounding that instead of increasing the number of seats on the trains, which has been repeatedly requested, we're going backwards like crabs," said Beatriz Cano, president of the Toledo Train Users Association.

 

She considers the proposal "unfeasible" and contradictory to current practice, which doesn't allow boarding if there are no seats available.

 

"We always complain about the sudden braking when arriving at stops. If people are standing, it can be dangerous. Or when you have to walk through the train when it's already moving, stability is minimal. How are we supposed to travel standing up the whole way?"

 

For now, Renfe and the Ministry are working on the pilot programme details, with the test expected sometime in 2026 on medium-distance routes.

 

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