Renfe has confirmed that it will modify the Avant and Cercanías trains operating in the province of Ciudad Real to enable spaces where bicycles can be transported without needing to be folded. The measure aims to facilitate intermodality between the bike and the train, reducing waiting times and effort for those who combine both modes of transport. This represents a practical advance for sustainable mobility in the region.
Technical adaptation of carriages for bicycle transport 🚆
To enable these areas, Renfe plans to redistribute the interior space of the carriages, removing seats in specific areas and installing anchors and support bars. The series 447 and 449 trains, common on these services, will be the first to receive the modifications. The work is expected to include reinforcements to ventilation and signaling systems to ensure safety. The company is studying timelines and budgets, although internal sources indicate that the first units could be operational by 2025.
Now we just need the bike and the owner to fit at the same time 🚲
The news has been received with relief by cyclists, although some veterans are already rubbing their hands together thinking about the choreography that will be involved in getting the bike on during rush hour. Because, let's be honest, if before it was a human Tetris with the folded bike, now it will be a circus show with the full-sized bike. But hey, at least we can boast that the train is no longer just for those traveling with a suitcase, but also for those going with handlebars.