Spain
- Transport - Trains
Spain is blessed
with a comprehensive and economic train network which is run by
the Spanish National Railway Network (Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles
Españoles) - RENFE.
Long distance
travel can be done either with the night express trains or with
the daytime high speed trains AVE. Intercity trains are express
trains, that do not stop in every village, and cover middle distance
daytime routes. They have video, telephones, restaurants and the
newspapers.
To travel on
any trains except regional and suburban trains you need to make
a reservation. If you are making a round trip by train it is significantly
cheaper to book your trip with set outward and return dates. Discounts
are available to travellers under 25 years and to pensioners.
Bicycles
The rules about accepting bikes on trains are reasonably complicated
however in general you can take your bike on long distance trains
which have sleeping places (bunks or bed carriages). Your bicycle
needs to be packaged in a bicycle box.
The Metro
The cities of
Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao and Seville all have efficient and convenient
metro, or underground networks, that generally run from 6:00 to
1:00 am. You can buy tickets from the Metro stations and get information
on route planning. In most cities you can also buy a travel pass
that you can use on the metro and buses. These passes are available
at kiosks, tobacconists and in underground stations.
Useful Links
RENFE
About.Com
Spanish Train Map
