Hallo there

I could go on for hours - you should see my pages of notes and the spreadsheet in analysing costs! I hope I don't bore you all with my first post so I'll ask a very specific question.

Trains Seville to Cordoba Sept 14. The options coming up on RENFE are:

AVE 42 minutes €29.20
ALVIA 52 minutes €28.80
Andalucia Express 1 hr 27 minutes €8.60 <--------

Why is the A.Express so inexpensive? Am I missing something? Why would anyone pay three times that price if they're not in a hurry to get there?

Reason for asking: I've been dithering for weeks about whether to buy an InterRail Spain 6-day Pass for our forthcoming holiday. I was greatly put off this option by the imperative to get a specific AVE from Madrid (arrival by air) to Seville (where we're staying) and could not determine whether InterRail passes would be allowed on AVE trains; and there is also the compulsory reservation on AVE trains, which InterRail do not provide. Eventually, I went ahead and booked the AVE Madrid>Seville>Madrid tickets+reservations from RENFE directly. I've done that now, all booked and paid for, plus I got a discount for the round-trip.

However, that left the question of the rest of our holiday train trips. I emailed InterRail and their response is, quote, "If you are taking several train trips, like you are planning to, the InterRail Pass will always be cheaper than buying single tickets each time". unquote.

That is not the case! By factoring in the Seville>Cordoba return at only €8.60/ticket, It will cost us over £60 LESS than buying their 3-day Spain Pass! (I've laboriously looked up each intended journey and put the prices into the spreadsheet.)

So, what am I missing here?

Many thanks. I hope this message doesn't appear muddled. Once we've arrived safely in Seville I'm not planning to go through the AVE-reservations-imperative again; I'd rather ad-hoc it.

"Why would anyone pay three times that price if they're not in a hurry to get there?"

People are willing to pay extra for fewer stops (with the all the coming and going of passengers), faster trips, train times that match exactly to their schedule, and nicer train carriages.

35 minutes more for 20 Euros savings - a lot of people value their time more than that.

My understanding is that AVE trains get top priority when it comes to track usage. In fact, I believe that you are due a refund IF the AVE train is delayed for more than X minutes.

Not so for the slow trains. If things go well, you get there in 1 hr 27 mins. If things don't go well, it can take much, much longer.

people will pay that much more yes for time and yeh for the significantly increased comfort level and to not be left riding with the poor rabble that will opt for the cheapest and slowest option

You would be strongly advised not to buy any rail pass for Spain; purchasing point-to-point tickets will invariably be cheaper. Also, for many sectors, you may find the bus service more convenient than the train.

We also took the Andalusia Express between Seville and Cordoba. We were also surprised at the vast difference in fares for a tad longer train journey. No, there is no catch. The fare differences are for real, and a bit surprising. So make good use of them, like we did ! And there is no appreciable difference in the carriage condition either.

Good Grief that was fast! That's the fastest forum reply I've ever seen in my life!

Poor rabble, eh?

I'm not a cheapskate or a tightwad. I'm just trying to work out if it's worth buying the InterRail 3-day pass at £95 each, PLUS I'll be on holiday so what's the rush?

The reason for back-tracking (literally) to Cordoba is to see some of the Vuelta which arrives there that day. They won't arrive till late, so there's no hurry to get there. I think.

(We're also going on side-trips to Granada and Cadiz while we're in the area.)

I've taken the cheap, local train from Seville to Cordoba, I guess it is that Andalucia Express. It's just a local suburban rail run, it's not that far away. High-speed trains always cost more, the equipment costs more. The other trains are just like local commuter trains. They are perfectly fine, and give you more options, anyway. Why would people pay more? Who knows, why do people do anything, maybe if they were in a real big hurry and had the money to spare, saving an hour that day would be worth it to them (30 min each way, if a day trip from Seville). If they have plenty of money, the AVE train seats are nicer, also, I suppose you could say. The Andalucia express is perfectly fine.

I took the Andalucia Express a few years ago and it was fine... I think it was a one-car train! But it got us there. I don't remember it being THAT cheap but it was a lot cheaper than the other trains.

I think there is something special about that train (historically? I can't remember) and that is why it is so cheap. Bring a picnic and enjoy the ride.

Well one thing for sure - since most people pay more they, the locals must feel it is money well spent

but i too often take the local trains and savor stopping at stations the other trains blur thru, etc.

There is a tourist special hotel train called the Al-Andalus Express or something like that - a private group tour and very pricey train that goes around Andalucia.

I am astonished at the fast responses here. On another travel forum you sometimes have to wait DAYS and even then they miss the point.

Since you're all so nice and friendly, here's another question. This reservations-are-compulsory thing with AVE trains. Suppose I did buy the InterRail pass - that would save us queueing up at Seville station to buy tickets every time we want to go somewhere, right? (We're not going out of Seville every day, that would be just silly.)

So, do ticket inspectors regularly inspect on AVE trains to make sure that hop-on passengers have pre-paid for these reservations? I bet they do. I'm thinking EuroStar for instance. Reservations can come to €10/head/journey, so that would add another €40 to the Seville>Cordoba round trip, no?

In essence: can one jump on an AVE when it pulls into the station, without a reservation, WITH a Spain Pass, and wing it?

Its.......so......complicated......

#
ellenem on Aug 3, 09 at 01:12 PM

"Why would anyone pay three times that price if they're not in a hurry to get there?"

People are willing to pay extra for fewer stops (with the all the coming and going of passengers), faster trips, train times that match exactly to their schedule, and nicer train carriages."

Exactly.
Why would anyone pay more to fly business class ...
or pay more to fly direct rather than make 2 stops on
the way.

Trains, planes ... same thing.

Q: "Why would anyone pay more to fly business class ...?"

Because it makes fewer stops than coach?

#
J62 on Aug 3, 09 at 02:30 PM

Q: "Why would anyone pay more to fly business class ...?"
"
Because it makes fewer stops than coach?" Funny..

as a matter fact, I have spent a very uncomfortable eight fours on a KLM Airbus ( not sure which model) a few days ago. The seating was so tight my knees were right into the seat in front of me, I could barely get in and out ( I am a short person).
I was sooo... envious of the people in the business class..

it is hours ...

"I am astonished at the fast responses here. On another travel forum you sometimes have to wait DAYS and even then they miss the point."

That's why we're all here. Welcome, StripedShirt.


"Since you're all so nice and friendly, . . ."
Now I"m positive that StripedShirt hasn't been here very long . . .

I will comment on what I saw just last week at the Valencia train station. Several students with passes were not let on trains without going first to the ticket offices. All trains that have seat reservations must require some type of check-in, I am guessing.

So, I do not see the advantage of these passes myself, and I am almost POSITIVE if these pass holders could not jump on any train to Madrid from Valencia, you will not be able to jump on an Ave without paying an additonal fee. You can probably jump on the regional trains, but not the fast ones.

This is only my assumption. I hope someone with the correct experience, or if you can read the fine print, will be able to guide you correctly.

danon, it's not the same thing, with respect.

On a train you can look out of the window at the scenery, get up and walk around, and you have your luggage with you! No fears about will the baggage handlers keep up with me, blues.

On a plane, I'll never fly long-haul again UNLESS I can afford business class, again. Sure, you get there at the same time as all the - what was it he said? - "poor rabble", that was it - in coach, but on a plane in business class you get a seat twice the size in every dimension, better food and drinks, and better on+off the plane too. It's worth it, flying long-haul.

However, back on topic, paying €20 extra per person per train-ride (so that's €80 euros extra for the two of us, return) seems a little steep for Seville-Cordoba-Seville.

Back on topic(2): am I right in thinking that with a Spain Card one can hop on any train that comes along, having pre-paid so much dosh? OR do the AVE inspectors demand the reservation fees when they catch you, on-board?

Oh heck. It's all so complicated........ maybe I'll have some last-minute epiphany. After all, there are ~5 weeks to go!

"So, do ticket inspectors regularly inspect on AVE trains to make sure that hop-on passengers have pre-paid for these reservations?"

You cannot board any of the high-speed trains without first passing through security and showing your ticket. The InterRail pass in not a ticket. You have to buy seat reservations. There are no hop-on passengers on any of the long, medium or short distance high-speed trains.

We also took the Andalucia Express from Seville to Cordoba, as well as a similar train from Seville to Granada. Both trains were perfectly OK and great value for money. Just one small tip, when you buy your tickets at the station in Seville, be sure to use the separate ticket counter for local/regional trains which is to the left of the counter for express trains. They don't speak English either so have your phrasebook to hand.