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Are you planning a train journey across Spain? SNCB International is the right place for information and ticket reservations to about 200 Spanish destinations!
The Spanish national railway company Renfe has a wide and varied range of trains. Not only the outstanding AVE high-speed trains (within Spain, but also between Spain and France), but also an impressive variety of other long-distance and regional trains. Icing on the cake: your ticket for long-distance trains gives you free travel on Cercanías commuter trains around your departure and arrival stations.
Madrid and Barcelona are the main hubs of the spanish rail network, from where you can easily criss-cross the entire country by train and discover countless treasures such as the historic jewels of Castile, the Moorish palaces of Andalusia or the wild landscapes of Asturias.
Compare the different fare classes for the AVE high speed trains between France and Spain:
Básico |
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Elige Estándar |
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Elige Confort |
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Children
All AVE tickets include:
Compare the different fare classes for Renfe's long distance trains offer (AVE, Euromed, Alvia and Intercity):
Básico |
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Elige Estándar |
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Elige Confort |
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Prémium |
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Children
All tickets of the long distance offer include:
Fare types for Renfe's medium distance trains offer (Avant and Regional Express):
One way |
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Return |
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Children
Tickets for Avlo low-cost high speed trains:
Básico |
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Children
AVE stands for Alta Velocidad Espanola, which means ‘Spanish high speed’. But it's no coincidence that ave is also the Spanish word for ‘bird’.
The AVE network is the largest high-speed network in Europe, centred on Madrid. It's part of Renfe's long-distance offer (Larga Distancia). The AVE's top speed reaches 300 km/h.
Depending on your route, you may board an S-100 type AVE (very much the same as the French TGV ‘Réseau’), an S-103 type (same as the German ICE 3) or an S-102/S-112 Talgo type (with its distinctive duckbill, earning it the nickname ‘el pato’).
On all AVE trains, you can choose between a Standard or Comfort car, and enjoy the bar carriage.
International AVE services
Domestic AVE services in Spain
Euromed trains are part of Renfe's long distance offer (Larga Distancia). They connect key Spanish cities along the Mediterranean coast with excellent service at speeds up to 200 km/h.
Euromed connections
Avlo stands for Alta Velocidad Low-cost. These high-speed trains operate on the same lines as the AVE trains, but at lower prices. So they do not fit the fare structure of Renfe's long-distance offer but have their own pricing.
Avlo trains have a basic set-up with only 2nd class carriage. There is no meal service, and luggage allowance is limited (extra luggage for a fee).
Avlo trains operate on the following routes:
The comfortable Alvia trains are part of Renfe's long-distance offer (Larga Distancia).
They run at a decent speed throughout Spain and have a bar carriage where you can go for a bite to eat and a drink.
Alvia Routes
Intercity trains are part of Renfe's long-distance offer (Larga Distancia), but do not run along the high-speed lines and may also make quite a few intermediate stops.
Intercity services
Avant trains are part of Renfe's medium-distance offer (Media Distancia). These fast trains operate from Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Valencia and guarantee the best travel time between nearby cities.
Avant services
Medium-distance trains within the different Spanish regions (Comuninades autonomas). The Regional-Express service is funded by the regions to serve municipalities with at least 1,000 inhabitants.
In some regions, the Regional Express network was given a local name, e.g. ‘Rexionais Galicia’ in Galicia, ‘Andalucía Exprés’ in Andalucia, ‘Regionales Aragón/Aragón Exprés’ in Aragon, ‘Castilla y León Exprés’ in Castillia y León and ‘Cataluña Exprés’ in Catalonia.
Tickets for Regional Express trains are generally cheaper than for high-speed trains. They only offer seats in 2nd class.
In the larger conurbations, the Cercanías play an important role in moving commuters, students but also occasional visitors between the suburbs and the inner city. These suburban trains run at a high frequency and serve a dense network of smaller and larger stations.
Cercanías can be found in the following agglomerations:
Combinado Cercanías
Did you know that your AVE ticket and tickets for some of Renfe's other long-distance trains (Euromed, Alvia or Intercity) allow you to travel for free with Cercanías (or Rodalies in Catalonia)?
This means you can easily travel from your arrival station to a station near your accommodation on arrival (and on the day of departure from your accommodation to your departure station).
Note that you have free access to these local trains up to 4 hours before departure of the train from the departure station and up to 4 hours after arrival in the destination city.