Spain - General Information

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Country Name

Spain (España)

National Railway System

Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (RENFE).

National Railway Operator

Train operation is the responsibility of RENFE Operadora. Initially, at least, the existing operating divisions continue, with passenger services provided by four divisions:

  • Cercanías - Suburban services around main towns and cities; this is known by the Catalan word Rodalies in and around Barcelona
  • Media Distancia - Interurban local services
  • Larga Distancia - Long distance
  • AVE - High speed trains using the Madrid - Segovia - Valladolid/Medina del Campo, Madrid - Sevilla/Malaga, Madrid - Zaragoza - Lleida - Barcelona, Madrid - Zaragoza - Huesca, Madrid - Cuenca - València/Albacete and Madrid - Toledo lines

There is a separate division for freight, Mercancías, subdivided into various businesses.

Languages

Spanish (Español) is the principal language. This is known as Castellano (i.e. Castilian) in Spain. Other languages predominate in certain regions: Català (Catalan) is used in Catalunya and a variant of it (Valenciano) in the València region; Gallego (Galician) is a Portuguese dialect, used in North West Spain; Euskara (Basque) is used in Euskadi (Pais Vasco, the Basque region): it is an isolate with no clear relationship to any other known language or language group. The regional languages are more likely to be encountered on notices and name signs than in spoken form. Català place names have been in general use for many years and are unlikely to cause confusion, although it is worth noting that the Valenciano for Alicante is Alacant. Gallego and Castilian names are mostly similar, except for prefixes. For example, La Coruña and El Ferrol are A Coruña and O Ferrol in Gallego. Place names in Castilian and Euskara can be quite different. San Sebastían is known in Euskara as Donostia and Vitoria as Gasteiz. It should be noted that the Euskara name for Pamplona (the main city of Navarra) is Iruñea or Iruña, which should not be confused with the border town, Irún.

Currency

Euro

UIC code

numeric 71, alpha E

Timetable

Journey Planner

  • RENFE Main line services. This provides a drop-down list of principal departure and arrival stations. If a more comprehensive list is required click on "Find all stations", which provides an alphabetical list. When an arrival station has been selected, the site will offer only direct services. If no direct service exists, more search options are offered. Click on 'Make the same journey with a change of trains' to obtain services involving a connection. Clicking on 'See the direct destinations from the selected point of departure' gives all stations to which there are direct services. Note that the journey planner does not include Cercanías (suburban) services (even such a long and infrequently served rural route as [Murcia -] Lorca Sutullena - Águilas). See "Cercanias services" below.
  • RENFE Cercanías services then select the region required.
  • RENFE former FEVE services.
  • EuskoTren: No journey planner appears to be available.
  • FGC.

Downloadable Timetable

Printed Timetable

  • RENFE: RENFE does not publish a national timetable and printed timetable books have not been published for a number of years. Individual leaflets are available for particular routes, but these are distributed only in the area served and may not be widely available. However, coverage of Spain in Thomas Cook's European Timetable is quite comprehensive.
  • RENFE former FEVE services: Individual timetable leaflets for particular routes were sometimes available under FEVE. The present situation under RENFE is not known; the compilers would appreciate any information.
  • FGC: Timetable leaflets are available for particular routes
  • EuskoTren: No timetable book is published but individual leaflets are available for particular routes.

Engineering Information

Bus Information

The compilers are not aware of a national bus journey planner. One of the largest companies is Alsa

Timetable information for all companies operating in Andalucia is avaialble at Transportes Generales Comes > English

Maps

Printed Maps

  • European Railway Atlas: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece by M.G. Ball (1991) (ISBN 0-7110-2087-6)
  • European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)

Web-based Maps

Ticketing

RENFE does not offer any type of network ticket. However, it has recently (July 2012) introduced the RENFE Spain Pass which enables non-residents to purchase a predetermined number of journeys within one month at a flat rate, making it more economical to use it for long journeys. A ticket must still be obtained for the actual journey. See the RENFE website for details.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

Infrastructure is owned and managed by a public authority, Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF).

Network Statement

Gauge

Gauge is probably more of an issue in Spain than most other European countries. Most of the RENFE system is 1668 mm gauge but there is probably an unspoken ambition to convert the network to UIC (1435 mm) gauge; many main lines are now being renewed with dual gauge sleepers even where no 1435 mm gauge track exists there. RENFE operates freight and passenger rolling stock able to work on both 1668 mm and 1435 mm gauge lines.

The AVE high speed lines between Madrid and Sevilla/Malaga/Toledo, Madrid and Valladolid/Medina del Campo, Madrid and Barcelona (- Girona - French border)/Huesca and Madrid and Valencia/Albacete are 1435 mm gauge, as is also the new freight access to Morrot (Barcelona) port. One track of the existing main line between Girona and Vilamalla (south of Figueres) has been converted to mixed gauge (with 1435 mm gauge passing loops), and similarly both tracks of the Mollet Sant Fost - Cerdanyola - El Papiol line, avoiding Barcelona, in order to provide access to Morrot port. The highest priority is now being given to converting the Barcelona - Tarragona - València - Silla Mediterranean corridor to mixed gauge in order to serve the needs of freight, in particular fruit & vegetable traffic and the Ford plant at Almusafes, where the company plans to convert the internal network to 1435 mm gauge.

The former FEVE system and the branch north of Madrid between Cercedilla and Los Cotos are 1000 mm.

Gauge Changers

There are more gauge-changing installations (cambiadores de anchos) in Spain than anywhere else in Europe, as follows:

Location In Service Type Usage
Cerbère ? Axle changer Freights to & from France
Portbou 1969 Talgo Trains to & from France
Hendaye ? Axle changer Freights to & from France
Irún 1980 Talgo Trains to & from France
Barcelona Sant Andreu Comptal 1988 Talgo Depot
Valladolid Campo Grande Spring 2008 Talgo/CAF Madrid - Galicia, Asturias & Basque region
Valdestillas [south of Valladolid] 22 December 2007 Talgo/CAF Madrid - Asturias & Irún
Medina del Campo 10 April 2008 Talgo/CAF Madrid - Galicia
Madrid Chamartin 2007 Talgo/CAF Gijon/Santander - Alicante services and transfers to Fuencarral
Las Matas [NW of Madrid] 1980 Talgo Depot
Madrid Santa Catalina 2006 Talgo/CAF Depot
Madrid Puerta de Atocha 1992 Talgo Gijon/Santander - Alicante services and transfers to Las Matas
Córdoba 1992 - 17 December 2006 Talgo Madrid - Malaga Talgos. Out of use.
Acoleca [east of Córdoba] 15 June 2009 Talgo/CAF Cádiz - Jaen services
Sevilla Majarabique 1993 Talgo Madrid - Cádiz and Huelva
Sevilla Majarabique 15 June 2009, replacing one dating from 1999 CAF Cádiz - Jaen services
Lleida 2003 - 19 December 2006 Talgo Madrid - Barcelona Talgo. Out of use
Plasencia de Jalón 2003 Talgo/CAF Madrid - Pamplona and Logroño
Zaragoza-Delicias 2003. Regular use from 15 September 2008. Talgo/CAF Diesel unit transfers to workshops. Barcelona - Galicia/Asturias/Basque region services. Note: a plan for an installation at Miraflores, to the east of Zaragoza, was abandoned.
Huesca 2003 CAF No scheduled use
Puigverd de Lleida 19 May 2006 - 19 December 2006 CAF Madrid - Barcelona Alvia. Out of use
Roda de Bará 19 December 2006 - 20 February 2008 2 x Talgo/CAF Madrid - Barcelona Alvia & Talgo services. Out of use
Antequera-Santa Ana 17 December 2006 2 x Talgo/CAF Madrid - Granada & Algeciras Altaria services
València Joaquín Sorolla 19 December 2010 Talgo/CAF Madrid - Castelló de la Plana Alvia services
Albacete 19 December 2010 Talgo/CAF Madrid - Alacant & València Alvia services
Figueres Vilafant 2010 Unknown No scheduled use

Electrification

The standard RENFE system is 3000 V dc. The AVE lines are 25 kV 50 Hz. Parts of the former FEVE system in northern Spain and the Cercedilla - Los Cotos line are 1500 V dc.

Rule of the road

Generally right-hand running. Broad-gauge routes of the former FC del Norte, north and west of Madrid, are left-hand running. The changeover between left- and right-hand occurs by means of flyovers at the Las Rozas triangle: right-hand running applies south (towards Príncipe Pio) and east (toward Chamartín) of Las Rozas. However, right-hand running applies on the Madrid Chamartín - Valladolid and Ourense - Santiago de Compostela LAVs and on the upgraded Santiago de Compostela - A Coruña line.

Distances

There is no good source for the network as a whole. However, comprehensive information for the high speed network exists on the Ferropedia website.

Other railways

  • Eusko Tren (Eusko Trenbideak, Ferrocarriles Vascos): Bilbao - Donostia [San Sebastían] - Hendaia [Hendaye]; Bilbao Deustu - Lezama; Amorebieta - Bermeo. 1000 mm gauge, 1500 V dc.
  • Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC): Local services around Barcelona, principally Plaça d'Espanya to Igualada and Manresa (1000 mm gauge, 1500 V dc) and Plaça de Catalunya to Terrassa and Sabadell (1435 mm gauge, 1200 V dc), plus the rack lines Ribes de Freser - Núria in the Pyrenees and Monistrol - Montserrat ( both 1000 mm gauge, 1500 V dc) and the Lleida - Pobla de Segur branch, recently taken over from RENFE. Also freight-only branches Manresa to Suria and Sallent, and San Boi de Llobregat to Barcelona Docks [Morrot] (1000 mm gauge, diesel).
  • Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) operates a network in Valencia (1000 mm gauge, 1500/750 V dc). Apart from sections of the Valencia tramway, these were converted from former FEVE lines, connected via new city centre through "metro" routes. Also Alacant - Creueta (1000 mm gauge, 750 V dc) and El Creueta - Benidorm - Denia (electrification at 1500V dc in progress from Creueta, 1000 mm gauge).
  • Ferrocarril de Palma de Mallorca a Sóller: Palma - Sóller. 914 mm gauge. Electrified at 1200 V dc.
  • Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM): Palma - Sa Pobla and Manacor (1000 mm gauge).
  • Azpeitia - Lasao (operated in connection with the Basque Railway Museum at Azpeitia)
  • CIFVM Museo del Tren: La Poveda - La Laguna del Campillo, in the suburbs south east of Madrid

Tourist Lines

  • Museo Minero y Ferroviario: 11km of the former Rio Tinto mineral system; Talleres Mina - Los Frailes, north of Huelva; 1067mm gauge
  • El Ferrocarril Turístic de l'Alt Llobregat (Tren del Ciment); La Pobla de Lillet - Museum del Ciment; narrow gauge

Metro

Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Palma, Sevilla.

Trams

Alacant, A Coruña, Barcelona, Bilbao, Murcia, Sóller, Valencia, Vitoria/Gasteiz, Zaragoza.

Recent and future changes

Changes in 2013

  • FEVE (Ferrocarriles Españoles de Via Estrecha) was formally absorbed into RENFE Operadora (operations) and ADIF (infrastructure) on 1 January.
  • The Barcelona - Girona - Figueres Vilafant high speed line opened on 9 January; through trains to and from Paris will start on 28 April.

Changes in 2012

  • The Ramal de Cáceres (Torre das Vargens - Marvāo Beirã CP - Valencia do Alcántara RENFE - Cáceres) closed to all traffic on 15 August 2012. The Lusitania (Lisboa - Madrid sleeping car train) was rerouted via the Vilar Formoso CP - Fuentes de Oñoro RENFE border crossing. All through freight traffic was discontinued on 5 February 2012. However, Cáceres - Valencia do Alcántara has since reopened to local passenger traffic.
  • The Pinto - San Martin de la Vega branch (Madrid Cercanias Line 3a) closed on 4 April 2012.
  • The 7.2 km San Jeronimo - Cartuja branch (Sevilla Cercanias Line 2) reopened on 20 February 2012. It originally opened as a standard gauge branch for the 1992 Olympics and is unusual in being a conversion to broad gauge.
  • It is reported that the SFM (Mallorca) line from Empalme (the junction east of Inca) to Manacor, reopened in 2003 after a couple of decades of disuse, is now out of use once again owing to the collapse of an embankment at an unknown date, and that its future is uncertain.

Changes in 2011

  • The new Santiago to Ourense line opened to public traffic on 11 December 2011. This is the first 1668 mm gauge high speed line in Spain and connects into the upgraded Santiago de Compostela - A Coruña line, which has benefitted from major realignments, creating in effect a new line.
  • The new link from Hortaleza to Madrid Airport (Barajas) opened to public traffic on 23 September 2011.
  • The León - San-Feliz section of the FEVE León - Bilbao line closed on 18 September 2011 for conversion to a tramway scheduled to open in 2013, whereupon San-Feliz will become the interchange between FEVE trains and the trams.
  • The existing Vigo terminal station closed on 28 August 2011 prior to being put underground and converted into a through station, with a a new 8 km twin-tube tunnel from Redondela and also a new line to Guillarei which will reduce considerably the distance to Ourense and Madrid. A new temporary Vigo Guixar station, on the goods branch to the docks, north of the existing passenger station, opened at the same time.
  • Passenger services were introduced on the Barcelona Cercanias system between Granollers Centro and Martorell on 26 June 2011, including the last non-passenger section of the goods avoiding line between Mollet and San Fausto–Sardañola.

Older Changes

For details of older changes dating back to the year 2005 see Spain - Older General Information.


Future changes

Standard gauge lines

  • High speed services to Alacant will start in June 2013.
  • The regional government of Catalunya has taken over work on the extensions of the FGC Vallès line from Terrassa to Can Roca and from Sabadell-Estació to Ca n'Oriac, which had been suspended owing to funding problems. The Terrassa line should be completed 14 months after work restarts and the Sabadell line in 2015.
  • In April 2012 the Minister for Public Works announced that the Mediterranean Corridor was to be equipped for standard gauge freight traffic by converting one track of the existing main line to dual gauge. Castellbisbal (Barcelona) - Valencia should be in service by 2015 and Valencia - Alacant by 2016.
  • Following the opening of the line between Perpignan (France) and Figueres Vilafant, some sections of the Figueres – Barcelona line are available for through UIC gauge freight traffic but the others require freights to use interlaced track on the existing main line. Services between Barcelona and Figueres Vilafant will run via the high speed line from 9 January 2013. This will mean closure of the short Figueres Vilafant - Vilamalla Iberian gauge line. Through services to and from France are expected to start operation in April 2013.
  • Work has started on the line from Olmedo to Zamora. It appears that only the physical junction at Olmedo will be retained, and the 21km recently reopened line to Medina del Campo will become redundant.
  • Work is in progress on the Valladolid - Palencia - León high speed line. Both this line and the existing 1688 mm gauge line will pass through Palencia and León in tunnel, with new underground stations in each town.

There are plans for other new lines:

  • Work has started on the Valladolid - Burgos high speed line.
  • Burgos to both Bilbao and Irun.
  • Madrid - Caceres - Merida - Badajoz (- Lisboa). Ministers in both countries stated that the line would be operational in 2013. However, all work on the Portuguese section was cancelled owing to the financial situation.
  • Construction is in progress on the third, standard gauge cross-city tunnel between Atocha and Chamartín to link the existing AVE lines north and south of Madrid.
  • Construction has started of the first section of the 186 km long Almería - Murcia high speed line.
  • The European Investment Bank has provided loan capital for construction of a high-speed line between Sevilla and Antequera.

1668 mm gauge lines

  • Zaragoza - Teruel.
  • Vigo - A Coruña: work to upgrade this route, including new double-track alignments designed for electrification and conversion to 1435 mm gauge, has now been completed on 88.7 of the 155.6 km:
    • Vigo - Portela: work has started and should be complete by 2010/11
    • Portela - Villagarcia de Arousa: opened to traffic in 2008
    • Villagarcia - A Escravitude: work has just started and should be complete by 2010/11
    • A Escravitude - Santiago de Compostela - Cerceda: opened to traffic in 2007/08
    • Cerceda - A Coruña: work has started and should be complete by 2010/11; a small section south of Uxes is already open.
  • León-Asturias high speed line: La Robla - Pola de Lena (- Oviedo) including the Pajares tunnels, which sre expected to enter service in 2014. The existing steeply graded and extremely circuitous line will apparently be retained for freight traffic.
  • Sevilla - Cádiz. Doubling is taking place at many locations between Jerez de La Frontera and Cadiz Cortadura.
  • Sevilla - Bobadilla - Granada. A new alignment to the south of the existing line is under construction from west of Osuna to the cut-off leading to Fuente de Piedra. A major rebuilding of the line on to Granada is planned as well as a new line from Sevilla to Marchena, well to the north of the existing line.
  • Funding was apparently approved for the Silla - Gandia branch to be extended to Denia, connecting there with the FGV line to Alacant. However this has now been revoked and the situation remains unclear.
  • Work was due to start on renovation of the Canfranc line between Jaca and Caldearenas, lasting for 18 months. However this appears to have been stopped by the incoming government.
  • There are plans to divert the main line through Valladolid into a tunnel with a new underground station. Construction has started on a new 1668 mm freight bypass to the east.
  • There are plans to divert the line through Logroño into a tunnel.
  • There are plans for a new station on the outskirts of Huelva which may involve closure of the present station.
  • Approval has been given for the first contract for the extension of the Málaga - Fuengirola line to Estepona. However, the provincial government is hoping the European Investment Bank will fund half the cost.
  • Plans have been announced for the construction of 115 km of new lines for the Madrid Cercanias network:
    • Doubling and electrification from Colmenar Viejo to Soto del Real for an extension of line C4
    • An extension of line C4 from Alcobendas S. S. Reyes to both San Augustin de Guadalix and Algete
    • A new route between Pinar de las Rozas and Majadahonda via the town centres and from Majadahonda to Moncloa
    • A new east-west “gran Eje Transversal Este-Suroeste” line between Principe Pio and San Fernando de Henares, with an extension to a new station at Soto de Henares via a deviation in Torrejón de Ardoz. West of Principe Pio, two alternatives are under consideration to either S.José de Valderas or Leganés
    • An extension of line C5 from Móstoles to Navalcarnero
    • Doubling and electrification from Humanes to Villescas for an extension of line C5
    • An extension of line C4 from Parla to Torrejón de Velasco
    • Quadrupling of the S.Cristóbal de los Ángeles - Pinto - Aranjuez main line
    • Quadrupling from Pinar de las Rozas to Villalba and doubling of Villalba - Collado Mediano
    • Studies are also being undertaken for extensions from Vallecas to Mejorada del Campo (lines C2/C7) and from Cuatro Vientos to Villaviciosa de Odón (line C5)

Metre gauge lines

  • Tenders are being sought for a branch to Bilbao Airport, comprising a 3.1 km double-track alignment from Matiko to La Ola with 1.9 km in tunnel. The line will join EuskoTren's Deustu - Lezama route near La Ola, where a new station is to be built and track doubled as far as Sondika.
  • Double-tracking has been completed on the EuskoTren Bilbao - San Sebastián between Amorebieta and Euba; the Euba - Iurreta section is out to tender and work is in progress between Iurreta and Traña. The line through Durango is being diverted underground with new subterranean stations at Durango, San Fauste and Trana, and.should be completed in 2010. This includes a new facility at Lebario to free the site of Durango depot for redevelopment.
  • It appears that approval has been given for extension of the SFM system from Manacor to Arta utilising the former railway.

Lines with a limited future

A number of lines have had passenger services severely pruned, and some lines may close.

  • Huelva - Zafra: owing to the poor condition of the track, this line was quite often bus substituted over the whole or part of the route during 2006. The line closed north of Jabugo-Galaroza on 26 September 2009 for relaying, with trains running between Jabugo-Galaroza and Zafra only at the weekend.
  • Cercedilla - Segovia: the slow Regionales service over the section beyond this interchange for the narrow gauge line to Los Cotos is threatened by Avant services to the new Segovia Guiomar station on the high speed line to Vallodolid. Indeed, the service beyond Cercedilla was drastically reduced on 16 November 2008.
  • (Huesca -) Jaca - Canfranc. Work was to start on renovation of the Canfranc line between Jaca and Caldearenas, but this was then cancelled.
  • It appears that Torralba - Soria is at present subsidised by Castilla y Léon, but this could be at risk if the subsidy is withdrawn.

Special notes

RENFE operates a confusingly wide range of train types, and special fares apply on those that are fastest or offer superior facilities.

  • AVE (originally meaning Alta Velocidad Española): High speed trains operating over the 1435 mm gauge lines: Madrid - Córdoba - Sevilla, Madrid - Zaragoza - Camp de Tarragona - Barcelona, Madrid - Zaragoza - Huesca, Madrid - Valencia, Madrid - Córdoba - Málaga, Madrid - Segovia - Valladolid, Madrid - Albacete.
  • Euromed: High speed train between Barcelona, Valencia and Alacant.
  • Talgo: Express train using articulated, light weight carriages. Some sets can change their gauge and/or operate on high-speed lines. Where technically identical, they differ from Altaria services by lower on-board service and comfort level.
  • Alaris: Tilting trains on 1668 mm gauge lines.
  • Altaria: High speed loco hauled Talgo200 trains between Madrid and Algeciras, Cádiz, Granada and Huelva, which operate on both 1668 mm and 1435 mm gauge lines. Where technically identical, they differ from Talgo services by higher on-board service and comfort level.
  • Avant: High speed trains operating over shorter distances on the 1435 mm gauge high speed lines: Madrid - Segovia - Valladolid, Madrid - Toledo, Madrid - Puertollano, Calatayud - Zaragoza - Huesca, Barcelona - Lleida, Málaga - Córdoba -Sevilla.
  • Alvia: High speed trains which operate on both 1668 mm and 1435 mm gauge lines on the following routes: Madrid - Valencia - Oropesa, Gijón/Santander - Madrid - Alacant, Madrid - Valladolid - Bilbao, Madrid - San Sebastián - Irún, Madrid - Guadalajara - Pamplona, Madrid - Guadalajara - Logroño, Barcelona - Zaragoza - Vigo. Barcelona - Zaragoza - Irún, Barcelona - Zaragoza - Bilbao.
  • Estrella: 'Classic' overnight trains. The only services left are Madrid - Cerbère and Bilbao - Málaga, although the continuance of the latter is uncertain.
  • Trenhotel: Overnight trains with additional facilities, such as showers. Trenhotel services to, from and via France are shown as Euronight in some timetables.
  • Tren Regional Diesel (TRD) and R-598: Longer distance local trains.
  • Regional Exprés: Interurban local train. In some areas these have a local identity, for example Andalucía Exprés.
  • Regional: Rural local train.
  • Cercanías: Suburban train.

Fares vary according to the type of train and time of travel. Usually fares are more expensive at busy times, but on Madrid Cercanías services fares are higher at weekends. On certain long-distance trains passes such as InterRail may only provide a discounted fare. It is always necessary for pass-holders to pay reservation fees, because these include compulsory travel insurance. Most passes are not valid on AVE trains, but discounts available include a 25% reduction for passengers in transit to join an international air flight. AVE passengers have a money-back guarantee if the train is more than five minutes late and refunds may be available in event of extreme lateness on other long-distance services.

RENFE maintains a rigid distinction between the four passenger service divisions. If a through journey involves a connection between trains of different divisions, a separate ticket will be issued for each division's portion of the journey.

A reservation is necessary to travel on any train other than Regional or Cercanías. At most main stations access to platforms used by long-distance trains is possible only upon production of a valid reservation. At busy times trains may become fully booked days in advance and standing passengers are not admitted. Reservations can be made at main stations. Although the system is quite efficient, long queues can develop at the busier stations and it is often necessary to obtain a 'queue ticket'. Waiting times are generally much shorter early in the morning.

Anybody contemplating travel in Spain would be well advised to make their reservations before leaving their home country to guarantee travelling on the train of their choice.

To find a list of RENFE agents in other countries: go to www.renfe.es/productos/index_visa.html and click "Puntos de Venta Internacional", select a country from the drop down list ("Seleccione un pais") under "Puntos de Venta en el Mundo". Note that these names are in Spanish: UK = ‘Reino Unido’ and Germany = ‘Alemania’. A new page will pop up giving contact details for the agent(s) in that country.

Other travel agents in these countries may also be able to supply RENFE tickets.

Tickets can be purchased through the RENFE website, search for your journey in the section “Ida y Vuelta / Ida” and follow the Spanish instructions. Foreign credit cards and addresses are now accepted by the system. Overnight trains to, from and via France cannot be booked via RENFE; use www.elipsos.com instead.

Connections between Grandes Lineas and Regionales trains may not wait in event of late running. Indeed, in spite of some reasonable connections being generated by the RENFE website, the minimum connectional time generally recognised is 60 minutes.

Airport style luggage security checks using X-ray machines are made for nearly all main line services.

See also

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