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While
train travel in Spain can be a little confusing,
most rail systems now seem to have been
consolidated under Spain's national train
company, RENFE.
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| Spain train
Stations:
More pages
related to Train Travel:
Outside Links
specific to train travel in Spain:
Links to Spain
Bus Companies: Continental Auto
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| Talgos
- are the fastest trains and only stop at
the major cities. |
| Rapidos
- are the, regular, daytime long-distance
inter-regional trains. |
| Estrellas
- are the night time version of Rapidos. |
| Cercanias
- are the local commuter trains. |
| AVE
- high speed train from Madrid to Seville
(2 hours 30 min.) |
| EUROMED
- high speed train from Barcelona to
Valencia (2 hours 50 min.) |
| Arco
- line between Barcelona and Valencia,
stopping at main cities along the
Mediterranean coast. |
| Alaris
- high speed line between Madrid and
Valencia, makes the journey in 3 and a
half hours. |
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Part
of the magic of train travel in Europe is its
high-speed rail system. Currently there
are only a few high-speed train routes in Spain but more high speed rail is being added each year.
One high speed rail is known as the AVE, take it and you can go from Madrid to Seville in
just two and a half hours! Or, head north on the AVE out of Madrid and end up in Zaragoza in one and a half hours. A high speed rail now connects Madrid and Toledo, making it just a 30 minute one way ride between the cities.
| Use the search box to the right to book train tickets between countries. Click on the 'See All Cities' link with in the box to book tickets between cities within Spain. Relationship Disclosure |
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| Spain Rail Passes: |
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Rail
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What you need to know
When it comes
to trains in Spain you may find the variety of
train types confusing (see the column to the left
and down), but when you arrive at the train
station all you really need to know is what
ticket window (Billetes) will get you a ticket to
your destination.
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Photo
Left: Barcelona train station on a light
traffic day. |
For an individual who has weak Spanish
speaking abilities (and perhaps even for
someone fluent in Spanish), entering the Madrid
and Barcelona Train Stations can
be disorienting--people rushing here and there,
Regionales signs, signs for EuroMed, AVI,
Cercanias and (non-staffed) information booths
all compete for your attention.
For traveling
out of the Madrid and Barcelona train stations, I
recommend either arriving at the station early
or visiting the station the day before your date
of travel. By doing a quick walk around, you can
locate the manned information booth(s), the
Regionales (Regional Trains), Cercanias (local
commuter trains), and Largo Recorrido (long
distance trains) ticket windows. At this time,
pick up train schedules for potential
destinations and determine which ticket window
sells train tickets to your particular
destination.
| It seems as if every time I go back
to the train station in Madrid (about
every 2 years) the floor layout changes
and information desk and ticket window
locations are modified. On your visit you
might find the ticket offices have been
consolidated. |
If you are
confused at all, check with the information desk.
Both the Barcelona and Madrid
Train Stations have helpful English-speaking clerks manning their information booths.
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Stop- Before
getting into line for a ticket or
information, look around. Do you see a
machine dispensing "take a number
for service" tickets? If so, you
need to acquire a number before stepping
into line.
Photo
left -"SU
TURNO" (your
turn). This number dispenser at the
Barcelona train station is used for the
information line.
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| Maximum speed of a high speed train
is 220 km/hour. |
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| At the large train stations
signs like the one to the right, for a "Cercanias"
short distance train, can be found at the train
platforms. This sign on platform #2 is announcing
the arrival of a train in 2 minutes. Train travelers
need to watch this sign closely, as in a 45 minute
period several trains, all going to different
destinations, may use the same platform. |
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Eurail Pass Tip:
Non-Europeans can save some money by
buying a rail pass before going to Spain. Extra
fees are applied in the EU. |
My train ride was
a pleasant experience. The AVE train to Cordoba
was outfitted with a television so you had a
choice of watching the scenery or a movie (in
Spanish, of course). |
| My first experience
with the Madrid train station in 1999.
I arrived early. There
was no one at the center information desk
(now moved next to the "Cercanias"
train counter). Using my phrase
book, I finally was able to get a train
schedule for Toledo. The schedule was in
English, but it took me a few minutes to
study it and decide what train to take.
Then I made my biggest mistake.
Right next to where I was sitting there
was a row of ticket windows. You took a
number and waited to purchase your ticket.
Unfortunately, after a long wait I
discovered I was not at the right ticket
counter--wrong company, wrong direction (Note: These windows are closed now.) Two
hours had gone by and now I worried
I might get into Toledo too late to find
a hotel.
I am certain
many people arrive at the train station
and have no problem at all. I just happened
to turn in the wrong direction and made
the wrong assumptions every step of the
way. With the current layout of
the Madrid train station I don't think
anyone will encounter similar problems
today.
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| You are not as likely
to find English-speaking ticket agents in the
smaller train stations. So, if you don't
speak Spanish it is a good idea to write down the
name of your destination or have a train schedule
handy on which you can point out your city
destination. It is also a good idea to note to
the ticket agent if you want a "one way"
(de ida solo) or "round trip" (de ida y
vuelta) ticket, something I always seem to forget. |
The short distance trains like the one below
(Cercanias) are not as comfortable as the Talgos
and make a lot more stops. A trip from Segovia to
Madrid takes a little over two hours.
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Here are two Talgo 200's in their bay. These high-speed trains can reach speeds of 135 mph,
allowing one to travel from Madrid to Cordoba in
less than 2 hours. |
| Have you bought a rail pass and now want to plan your trip? RENFE train schedules can be useful for figuring out connections, more info. |
For a rail pass or a train ticket to get you from a Spanish city to another European country,
(Note: To book individual rail tickets between countries you will need to use
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Read about the Madrid Train Station
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