The Spanish Railways (The Red Nacional de los Ferrocarilles Españoles or RENFE) cover a large number of lines connecting all the regions and the major cities.
RENFE trains offer a wide range of quality, comfort and punctuality.
From Madrid travelers can easily reach any other destination in Spain. For example: a trip from Madrid to Barcelona takes approximately 3 hours. There are around 20 trains daily, leaving every hour. RENFE also supplies night train services between several cities in Spain.
Download rail map of Spain (PDF, 0,4 MB)
Explanation of the legenda: lines indicated in blue (ADIF) are trains operated by RENFE, free for Pass holders (reservation fees possible). On the lines in yellow (Feve) and orange (FGC) Pass holders get 50% discount. Passes are not valid on the lines operated by FGV, SFM and ET. "Línea de Alta Velocidad" means high-speed line (like AVE).
High-speed trains:
- Ave trains run with speeds up to 300 km/h on the routes: Madrid - Zaragoza - Camp de Tarragona - Barcelona, Madrid - Zaragoza - Huesca, Madrid – Cordoba -Sevilla, Madrid – Cordoba -Málaga and Madrid - Segovia - Valladolid.
- Alvia trains run on the routes: Madrid - Gijón, Madrid - Santander, Madrid - Bilbao, Madrid - San Sebastián - Irún/Hendaya and Madrid - Valencia - Castelló.
- Euromed trains run on the line: Barcelona – Valencia/Alicante
- Altaria trains run on the following routes: Madrid – Alicante, Madrid - Córdoba - Algeciras, Madrid - Granada, Madrid - Sevilla - Cádiz, Madrid - Sevilla - Huelva, Madrid - Pamplona, Madrid - Logroño, Madrid - Murcia - Cartagena.
In Spanish high-speed trains like AVE, 1st class is called 'Preferente', 2nd class is called 'Turista'.
Railway services
Most high-speed trains supply additional services such as phone facilities, snack bar or a restaurant.
Larger stations in Spain have check-in desks for certain trains, similar to airports. This may also include X-ray screening of your luggage.
Train types
- Alaris, Altaria, Alvia, Arco, Ave, Euromed, TRD and Talgo: high speed trains, reservations are required
- Diurno and InterCity: intercity trains, reservations are recommended but not required
- Regional and interregional trains, reservations are not required
- Cercanías: commuter trains, reservations are not required
- Estrella and Trenhotel: night trains, reservations are required.
Most international (night) trains to and from Spain also need seat reservations. See the section seat reservations for overviews of reservation fees.
How to get there
Spain is connected by direct trains to Portugal and France. Spain has ferry connections to Italy.
Stations in Madrid
Madrid's main long distance railway stations are:
- Atocha Station: the largest station in Madrid, close to the city center (metro: Atocha RENFE). From here trains depart to the south, east and west of Spain.
- Chamartín Station: in the north of the city, close to Plaza de Castilla. From here trains depart to the north of Spain.
There are three more stations for commuter trains: Príncipe Pío, Recoletos and Nuevos Ministerios.
Stations in Barcelona
There are two main train stations in Barcelona:
- Estació de Sants: the main station, in the north-west of, close to Plaça de Espanya. The centre of local and medium-distance train services, as well as the main intercity train station for national and international destinations.
- Estació de França: the second busiest railway station of the city, close to the beach and Parc de Ciutadella. Various domestic and international trains depart from here, including the overnight Trenhotel to France.
