Madrid to Seville AVE Train - Economy vs. Comfort
 

Hi,

We'll be taking AVE train from Madrid to Seville and I am wondering what is the difference between economy and comfort options. Also, where do you store luggage on these trains?

Thank you.
Irina.

We just recently took the AVE train from Seville to Madrid. We just bought the regular ticket, it was fine and they have assigned seating, so need to worry that you won't have a seat. They have luggage racks at the front or back of each train car where you can place your big luggage. You can put carry on luggage on luggage racks above you.

Hope this helps.

One advantage is the VIP room for first class ( preferente) passengers at departure at the station. There are drinks and snacks there and it is quite comfortable.

Also, you have unlimited beverages ( alcoholic included) along with snacks and a meal ( depending on the time) in preferente class.

We bought regular tickets and it was totally fine - as panda2ac notes, there is assigned seating so you don't have to fight for a place to sit. The seats were comfortable, ample space for luggage, and we brought drinks and snacks at the station to bring on the train (quite good bocadillos, actually).

It may help - dig deep enough on the RENFE site and there are 'photos (and possibly video).

First, there is no such thing as 'economy' and 'comfort'.

Spot the made-up Rail Europe terminology! Rail Europe make this up for the American market, these are not terms used or understood in Europe.

We usually use the terms '1st class' and '2nd class' (or '1st class' and 'standard class' in the UK and Ireland), but Spain calls 1st class 'Preferente' and 2nd class 'Turista'.

In addition, AVEs on this and a few other routes have a premium 1st class called 'Club'. You cannot book 'Club' at Rail Europe.com, because as they've set up their system with two classes, it can't cope with three!

Indeed, if you were booking a typical European sleeper train, it can't even cope with a choice of two types of couchette and three types of sleeper on the same train, as all 5 types of accommodation have to be shoe-horned into their made-up 'Economy' and 'Comfort' categories, so it only allows you to book 2 randowm types out of the five! But I digress...

I'd recommend using Spanish Railways own website to book this journey, www.renfe.com because then you can book all three classes AND get the cheap 'Web' and Estrella fares, not just full-price ones.

In Turista class, Madrid-Seville is about 85 euros full price, but as little as 33 euros with a cheap 'web' fare.

Preferente and Club fares get you

(1) a meal and wine, served at your seat, included in the price,

(2) access to the Sala Club in Madrid and Seville, with complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks and beer,

(3) more spacious seating, 2+1 across the width of the car, Turosta is 2+2.

Club has leather seats, Preferente has fabric. I'm totally sold on the excellent Preferente or Club service, I'd definitely splash out on at least Preferente if budget allows!

If you want to see what the actual seating looks like on a Madrid-Seville AVE, I've put photos of each class on one of these AVE S100 trains in the 'London-Seville' section on www.seat61.com/Spain.htm.

The at-seat meal shown is a meal I had in Club class on a Madrid-Barcelona train in March this year, included in the price, served on a little tablecloth on proper crockery with metal cutlery, served with a choice of wines, and washed down with a coffee and brandy, also included. I'll definitely be going Club class again!

I think the food in preferente is a little simpler, look at the photo on the same page of a meal in preferente served on an Altaria train.

The regular tickets are fine, it is a short trip anyway.

Madrid-Sevilla is just 2 1/2 hours.

I traveled in Turista class on a AVE 103 series train from Barcelona to Madrid and back, and the comfort, the seats etc. was very fine. You also get free headphones to watch a movie in tourist class.

If you manage to secure one of the cheap Web or Estrella Turista fares you should do the math and check how much that free meal in the more expensive classes will cost you.

Recently looking for a friend, the preferente fare was Estrella, and there were no discounts in tourist, so, obviously, do the math, but you may be pleasantly surprised.

Thank you everyone. Your comments have been very helpful.