I will be traveling on the talgo 200 from Malaga to Madrid and was wondering if any one used this train. What is the difference between tourist and preference? We will be 4 persons with luggage.

usually you get a free meal in first class and newspaper, but i am not sure on this exact line.
also, sometimes seats are more comfortable.

if you dont care about that, ask for second class.

We've taken the Talgo, Clase Preferente, from Asturias to Madrid recently. It continues on to Alicante.
At the entrance to each first class (Preferente)car there is a place to store luggage. Over the seats there is a rack which will accept "airline carry-on sized luggage".
Meals are served at the same seats or one can go to the adjacent "bar" car. You pay for whatever you want.
For the slight difference in price, Clase Preferente is recommended. Usually it is full on this route so one must reserve well in advance.

Thanks for the info. Do you know what the tourist cars look like?

Last fall, we took that exact train. We traveled Tourist and had no complaints. It also had a rack in the front for luggage. We had been advised through Fodorites that there was no real need to travel preference- that the food in Preference wasn't very good and the trip isn't very long. I think there is a cafe car on the train, where you can buy drinks and sandwiches, but you can always pack an informal picnic.

YOu should reserve the train in advance. If you are non- smokers, make sure to reserve a non-smoking car. On the trip south on the AVE, we were in a smoking car, and it was quite unpleasant.

Have a great trip.

Of course I have more questions. When you say there are luggage storage, is it where you can see them? I am worried about thief. Did you reserve a ticket on the renfe site on the internet? I found a tiknet site. Do they mail the ticket to you or do you pick it up in Malaga? I'm just learning Spanish, do you know if English is spoken in Malaga or Tommolinos? I think I didn't spell that correctly. I'm thinking of taking a car service for Tommolinos to the station. Any suggestions. Thanks for your help so far

Malaga and Torremoinos are hotbeds of Britisih tour groups - you are more likely to hear english spoken than Spanish in many places.

I've never heard of luggage theft from the storage areas at the entrance to each car. Actually on the Talgo route I'm familiar with, the bar/snack bar car is between first class. (Preferente) and Tourist Class cars.
Other than the overhead storage rack, you cannot keep an eye on the storage area very easily.
But I have always ASSuMEd that thieves, if any, wouldn't ride first class!
Also recommend that since the storage space is somewhat limited that you board the train as early as possible to store luggage.

Assuming thieves don't ride in First Class certainly wouldn't preclude one from walking through First Class and sizing up the situation.

If you are really worried about loss of luggage get yourself one of those combination lock bicycle cables and secure your luggage to the rack with it...it will give you peace of mind if nothing else.

Thanks, the bike cables sound great. English is good, being our Spanish is bad. Bringing some food is a good idea. How early do you think we should be at the train station? Is one hour enough? Is it mostly Spaniah specaking in Madrid? In Malaga and Madrid, how much do drinks (all types) and food, appoximately cost?