Does Spain have free rail travel?

Launched by Spanish authorities last year to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis for residents, the free train travel period was due to end this spring. However, authorities extended the program to December 2023, meaning travelers visiting Spain this summer can now take advantage.



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The initiative, which launched last September and was supposed to end this spring, has successfully been extended to December 2023, The Points Guy reports. Thanks to the program, commuter trains and mid-distance regional lines will no longer have fares. The qualifying trains are operated by the national company Renfe.

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Free train tickets are available to anyone in Spain until the end of 2023, but there are a few caveats. First, the free tickets are only available on Renfe-operated commuter trains (Cercan?as and Rodalies) and medium-distance train journeys under 300 kilometers, or 186 miles.

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Tarjeta Dorada Card If you are over 60, make sure you are eligible for a discount on all your train trips for just 6 euros. You can purchase your Tarjeta Dorada, which is named and non-transferable, at station ticket offices or travel agencies. It is valid for one, two or three years.

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The Spanish government announced in November 2022 that it will extend a subsidy introduced for train passengers in September to public, long-distance buses.

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Travelling by bus Getting the bus is one of the cheapest ways to get around Spain – although for long distances it is not always the most comfortable. It's also one of the easiest ways to access off-the-beaten-track destinations and rural areas where there are no train lines.

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Two European countries stand out for their trailblazing free transport schemes. Estonia's capital Tallinn introduced free public transport in 2013. In 2020, Luxembourg became the first country in the world to scrap fares on all public transport.

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Public transportation with the city area and to the airport With the Barcelona Card and the Barcelona Card Express you receive free usage of the public transport, with only one ticket. You don't need to buy any additional tickets before the rides.

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Spain introduced the free train subscription scheme in September 2022 in response to the increase in energy prices due to the war in Ukraine and the elevated costs of living.

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Generally, if someone is caught without a valid train ticket they will face fines and/or a criminal charge.

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Typically there are three types of train ticket in Spain: Básico, Elige and Prémium. These different types of ticket offer different rates of flexibility. Básico is the cheapest type of ticket you can buy, for both Standard and First Class, with Prémium being the most expensive.

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Trainline is the official reseller of Renfe and Avlo, the brands of Spain's national railway company, OUIGO and iryo as well. So you all have ALL the options in just one place. Trainline sells train tickets for the same price as the Spanish carriers.

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The best and fastest way to travel long distances in Spain is by taking the AVE (Alta Velocidad Española), which uses Madrid as its principal terminal and travels to many of the country's principal cities. AVE trains are comfortable, efficient and incredibly fast.

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In Spain you can get the senior discounts when you are 65 years old. Spanish Railways think that Seniors begin at 60 and sell a very useful annual card to get discounted rail fares as much as 40 pct.

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