Direct high-speed train from Malaga to Seville due to arrive in 2026

Travellers with fingers crossed for a seamless journey between Malaga and Sevilla can finally rejoice as the direct high-speed train from Malaga to Sevilla is back on track and due to arrive in 2026. 

The Almodovar del Rio bypass will eliminate the Cordoba stop and train change, and cut the AVE Malaga to Seville time from 1 hour 55 minutes to less than 1 hour 30 minutes on Renfe’s Avant and AVE services.

Designed for trains to cover 157 km at speeds up to 250 km/h, the €39 million bypass project will bring fare prices down starting at €22 and increased tourism and work opportunities. As Andalusia’s economy continues booming, the improvement remains in line with EU green goals, by easing road traffic at the same time as creating new business links.

The announcement, confirmed by Transport Minister Oscar Puente, is part of Spain’s push for interconnected high-speed rail upgrades all over Spain. With daily services from Malaga Maria Zambrano to Seville Santa Justa, initially it is said there will be 9 to 12 trains on weekdays, complete with scenic olive grove views.

AVE Malaga to Seville time: Under 1.5 in late 2026

Currently, the direct high-speed train from Malaga to Seville clocks in at a minimum of 1 hour 55 minutes, and that is only when both the Malaga-Cordoba train and the Cordoba-Seville train coincide, but the 2026 bypass changes everything. The 2 km infrastructure link, which will integrate the latest technology in signalling, avoids Cordoba station altogether.

“This will connect Sevilla and Malaga in 1.5 hours, a strategic boost for southern Europe,” stated Minister Puente in a recent address. For context, the route already serves 39 million Spanish passengers annually.

The Andalusia high-speed rail upgrades, including this bypass, could raise tourism levels by 10–15 per cent by knitting Andalucia’s 2 biggest economic engines tighter together. Also, Seville Santa Justa and Malaga Maria Zambrano stations offer metro and airport links, just 12 minutes from Malaga Airport via the C1 train.