The Trains in Spain coming off the plains
 

Hello all:

Traveling to Spain in a week for a trip to madrid-Sevilla-Granada - Salamanca and Toledo. Is it necessary to buy train tickets ahead of time?

Best,

Andrew

IME No

buy all tickets when arrive in Madrid

At least hourly trains Madrid Atocha-Seville

Seville-Granada can be quicker and cheaper perhaps by bus

Madrid-Salamanca is a regional train - no problem getting on.

Toledo no problem at all.

www.renfe.es Spanish rail web site for schedules and costs and possible bookings (if you can get it to work) - if can book the Madrid-Seville do it - if you have to be on a certain train at a certain hour - if flexible wing it.

You can not buy your tickets on the train itself, if this is what you mean.

Very witty post title! Well done.

The Pain in Spain Is Mainly on the Train


so true about 20 years ago but now Spanish mainline trains are as good as any in Europe.

AVE goes up to about 190 mph and the new Barcelona-Madrid high-speed line if it ever attains speeds it was designed for promises to become Europe's fastest train at about 205 mph. Technical problems have so far prevented these speeds and sections of the line are still limping to completion i believe after many delays

But the Pain in Spain Is No Longer on the Train

You can reserve a seat on the AVE from Madrid to Sevilla as late as the day of travel, but availability will depend on which day of the week you’re traveling on and which train you want to book. If you want to catch an earlier train, then I highly recommend booking in advance to make sure there is a seat.

Andrew arriving into Barajas, in the old terminal there is a RENFE office where you can buy your tickets. IT saves you time. The lady seems to hang most of the time a sign saying : I shall be back in five minutes. So stand by the window and she will come right away.
I found this very convenient. Also you can buy tickets in any travel agency or of course in RENFE offices.

You can also note that Terminal 1 is currently undergoing major renovations and the Renfe ticket window may or may not be open when you arrive.

While AVE trains to Toledo and Seville are frequent, so are the riderships.

I would NOT wait until the day of departure to buy tickets - if it is what you mean by ahead: in Spain but "ahead" of the day of departure.

This March, I was glad I already had a ticket on a morning train to Toledo: all the morning AVE departures from Atocha on the departure screen indicated sold out.

Just returned from a trip to Spain two days ago. The Renfe counter at Terminal 1 is very much functional, despite the ongoing renovations. We bought our tickets for Toledo at that counter. The lady did not disappear for 5 minutes in our case ! It was quick and efficient.

Glad to hear they are now keeping the window open. It was closed in late July for a couple of days.

The T1 renovation is supposed to be complete by May 08.

Is it easy to find the Renfe office at the airport? Can someone tell me where it is located? I did a google search and could not find a map or location (other than that it is in Terminal 1).
Thank you!

Just ask any airport employee in T-1, and they will tell you where the Renfe ticket terminal is. It is inside the terminal building, and hence not at all difficult to find.