Bookings and reservations
Bookings (reservations) can be made on routes between two months and one hour before departure. On AVE trains, open tickets ( billetes abiertos) are valid for six months and bookings can be made ten minutes before train departures. Many stations have advance booking offices, although it’s usually better to book at a RENFE office or a RENFE-appointed travel agent ( agencias de viajes), displaying the blue and yellow RENFE logo. Seats should be reserved as far in advance as possible, particularly during the main tourist season and before public holidays.
When you make a booking via the phone or internet you’re given a code number. You must then go to any station or RENFE travel agent within two days of making the booking , quote this number and show identification. Tickets can be paid for with cash and various credit and charge cards, including MasterCard and Visa. If you pay by credit card you must show identification. Note that seat and (in particular) sleeper bookings are compulsory on many long-distance trains. Train tickets purchased abroad must be stamped before each journey, at a RENFE office or at a station before departure.
It’s possible to change the date and time of travel on pre-booked tickets. Changes can be made up to five minutes before the train’s departure and cost 10 per cent of the ticket price, but there’s no charge if the change is for travel on the same day. Cancellations are free of charge unless the ticket or reservation is cancelled within two hours of travel in which case a 15 per cent surcharge is charged. You can change the departure date of a ticket with a reserved seat without penalty up to two hours before the scheduled departure. Cancellation and refund of a ticket for AVE and Talgo trains can be done up to five minutes before departure.
Season & Special Tickets
Many season tickets ( abonos) and special discount ( descuento) tickets are available in Spain. These include discounts for students and youths (16 to 25), senior citizens, disabled passengers, commuters and groups. Most special tickets can be changed or cancelled. Information is obtainable from information and ticket offices at any station.
Senior citizens over 60 and disabled passengers are eligible for a ‘gold card’ ( tarjeta dorada), offering discounts of 40 per cent on all trains except AVE and Talgo 200 long-distance trains, where the discount is 40 per cent from Monday to Thursday (inclusive) and 25 per cent on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
There are various commuter tickets, including monthly season tickets ( bonos mensuales) offering discounts of up to 40 per cent. For further information enquire at any RENFE ticket office. Season tickets are also available on long-distance trains such as the Talgo 200 between Malaga and Madrid.
A student card ( carnet joven) is available from local municipal youth departments for students aged between 12 and 26 and provides a 25 per cent discount on RENFE regional trains, but no discount on AVE or Talgo trains. A passport or residence permit ( residencia) and a passport-sized photograph are required. Students can also benefit from the Tarjeta Studio which is valid for one term and allows unlimited travel on local train networks in Asturias, Barcelona, Cadiz, Malaga, Murcia, Seville and Valencia. Prices depend on the area.
On AVE and Talgo 200 trains there’s a 40 per cent discount for children aged from 4 to 13. On other trains the discount is for children aged from 4 to 11. Children under four travel free on all trains.
Groups of 10 to 25 people receive a 15 per cent discount on AVE and Talgo 200 trains (for groups above 25, contact RENFE).
Holders of a Eurailpass, Eurodomino or Inter-rail pass may travel on AVE and Talgo 200 trains, but a supplement is usually payable. Student discounts of up to 40 per cent are available from offices of Wasteels (European travel agents that specialise in train tickets).