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What to Know About Spanish Railway
The Spanish rail network is very developed, modern, and broad, so it's no surprise that traveling around Spain by train is among the most favored options both by locals and tourists. The Spanish train system is noted not only for safety but also for offering multiple departure times on over 50 domestic routes every day (see the map of popular Spanish train routes below). What is more, Spain's high-speed rail plays an important role in the country's transportation, thus, it is a simple, fast, and comfortable way to travel between the major cities, saving a lot of your time. On this page, we have put together all of the information you might need regarding train journeys in Spain, train types to select for your upcoming trip, the popular domestic routes in Spain and the international train routes in Spain, as well as answers to often asked questions. With such extensive information at your fingertips, planning your rail journey through Spain has never been easier.
- Overall length of rail tracks in Spain 16 026 km
- Types of trains in Spain regular & high-speed
- Number of Spanish routes sold on Rail Ninja 50+
- Fastest train speed of Spanish trains 310 km/h
Rail Travel in Spain
AVE High-speed Trains
The high-speed AVE train is the most popular high-speed train Spain has to offer.
Bullet trains of this type are operated by Renfe and connect many destinations in the country, including cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Bilbao, and San Sebastian, among others. What is more, travelers may choose from several coach classes as well as an extensive schedule of departures, created to fit any plans.
Iryo High-speed Trains
The high-speed Iryo train is a new and innovative option in Spain's railway system.
These bullet trains are operated by Iryo and provide fast connections between major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Valencia. Iryo trains offer a variety of coach classes to suit different preferences and budgets, along with a flexible schedule of departures designed to accommodate all types of travelers.
Popular questions about Spain Trains
Tips on train travel in Spain
What are Spanish trains like?
Rest assured, you will encounter only well-equipped modern trains when traveling via Spain rail. No matter which route you choose (even those Spain trains connecting the city center to an airport), you can count on comfortable seats and quiet air-conditioned coaches. Plus, because the train network Spain has is very extensive there are usually screens onboard the trains showing information about the route and distance covered. Some trains even have free WiFi.
Spanish train classes
If we take into consideration the bullet train Spain is so proud of, the AVE, then there are three travel classes: 2nd class, 1st class, and Premium.
When do reservations open?
Here on Rail Ninja you can book your Spain train tickets as far as 2 years in advance to your departure date.
Do you need a ticket reservation? Should you pre-book?
Booking trains in Spain in advance rather than buying last-minute is advisable so as to safeguard yourself from no or limited availability for the departure time or date that you need. Generally, the Spain train schedule has rare cases of canceled departures, so it's easy and safe to plan your train travel in Spain ahead of time.
X-ray baggage check at Spanish stations
Similarly to the procedure that there is in airports, you'll need to pass a security check before boarding trains in Spain, during which your luggage will be scanned and you'll need to pass a metal detector.
Luggage & luggage weight limits on Spanish trains
When touring Spain by train you need to know that you may bring onboard the train no more than 3 items of luggage per person. Moreover, the overall weight of your baggage shouldn't exceed 20 kilos (44 pounds).
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