Tourism Intermediate Conversation Lesson: Rail – Ouigo España
Before your trial lesson, listen to the audio recording whilst reading the text. Additionally, study the 5 questions to gain an understanding of the topics and themes that will be covered during your online trial conversation lesson.
Ouigo España is a new Spanish railway company offering very competitive fares, with promotional prices as low as €9 per person for a one-way ticket between Madrid and a growing number of important Spanish cities. Ouigo Espana’s business model is based on that of its French equivalent Ouigo France, whose parent company SNCF is based in France. Ouigo France has enjoyed huge success with its low-cost, low-fare rail operation and the same business model is now being used by Ouigo España. It’s interesting to note that this modern railway operating model is similar to that of successful European budget airlines such as Ryanair and easyJet.
However, Ouigo España faces tough competition with the national railway Renfe’s low-fare brand Avlo which commenced operations in June 2021 and Iryo, owned jointly by Air Nostrum and Trenitalia, which started similar services in 2022 within Spain. Ouigo España carried approximately two million passengers in its first twelve months of operation, much to the surpise of many Spaniards, including a number of previously sceptical politicians!
Ouigo España claims that their business philosophy is to provide the best transportation value travelling by train, as well as respecting the environment with a much lower carbon footprint per passenger compared to air and road transportation. The operator’s innovative double-decker carriages have a capacity for more than 500 passengers per journey, which is why the company can offer very low prices plus the best quality and comfort, travelling as fast as conventional high-speed trains but at a much lower cost.
Ouigo España operates the Alstom Avelia Euroduplex, an advanced train manufactured by the French manufacturer Alstom and also primarily operated by Ouigo France and its parent, SNCF. It is also in operation with the Moroccan national railway company ONCF and is the 3rd generation of the TGV Duplex type. A key feature of the Euroduplex trains is their capability to operate interchangeably between several European countries, due to the fact that they contain special equipment allowing them to operate under various types of electrification and signalling systems.
5 Key topics for discussion in the conversation lesson
1. Summarise briefly the article in your own words and your initial reaction to it.
2. Outline the relationship between Ouigo España and France.
3. Explain who you think are Ouigo España’s main transportation competitors in Spain.
4. Describe the environmental and financial benefits that Ouigo España brings to Spain and its inhabitants, as well as to its international visitors.
5. Recap the important characteristics of the Alstom Avelia Euroduplex trains.
