Train Travel in Spain
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Travelling by train in Spain can be a rewarding experience but it also requires a bit of planning. The national train company, RENFE, is a large railway system throughout the country. There are high-speed train routes, the AVE, which go, for example, to Madrid from Seville, in 2 1/2 hours, Madrid to Zaragoza in 1 ½ hours, and from Madrid to Toledo in 30 minutes.
You need to have a ticket for your destination, which you get from Billetes which is the name for the ticket window. You need to locate the correct booth for the train you wish to travel on, for example Regionales for Regional trains, Cercanias for local commuter trains and Largo Recorrido for long distance trains. There are train schedules available for these destinations. There are English-speaking information officers nearby if you need assistance.
An important fact to know is you need a ticket before stepping into line for service. The Spanish phrase “Su Turno” means your turn. Trains going to different destinations use common platforms that other trains may also use so read all posted signs carefully. Eurail passes can save some money and need to be purchased before coming to Spain. There are extra fees that apply to a Eurail Pass. Madrid is the main transportation hub for the trains to leave from as they fan out for travelers to have access to other cities in order to see different sites or events such as flamenco fiestas, celebrations, the Costa del Sol, museums, cathedrals, and palaces.
Train travel in Spain is relatively inexpensive but you have to check on the arrival and departure timetables in order to make connections and to ensure the train you require for connections is running. Occasionally for events and during key tourist and travel times the train schedules change to handle the additional number of passengers. The trains are comfortable, modern and basically new. The “Dias Azules” (Blue Days) are good days to travel as they are at 50% discount but this does not apply to holidays, eves of holidays or common holiday periods. The “Tarjeta Turistica” (Tourist Card) is good for non-residents of Spain but has kilometre limitations for total amount of travel on the card.