FAQ

What is Renfe?

With Renfe e-tickets enjoy the ease of train travel in Spain. It’s as simple as choosing the preferred destination from the most popular Spanish cities, seat reservation included! With every domestic destination available for booking, you can also travel aboard Spain by high speed AVE trains.

Spain's high speed AVE trains

Spanish high speed AVE trains (Alta Velocidad Española) is a modern and high quality train offering an extensive service on board on the described routes. The travelers with 1st Class-Club and Preferente reservations have the right to access the exclusive lounge “Sala Club”. Check-in control on the platform, up to two hours before boarding the train.

AVE trains are famous for transporting passengers on time to the most popular cities. Reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h, the AVE train covers the distance between Madrid and Barcelona in just 2 hours and 30 minutes.

AVE trains connect to such cities as Madrid, Zaragoza, Camp de Tarragona, Barcelona, Girona, Figueres Vilafant (French border), Córdoba, Sevilla, Málaga, Huesca, Valladolid, Cuenca, Valencia, Albacete, Alacant.

Map of destinations

Estimated travel time for some routes

Itinerary	Estimated travel time
Madrid–Granada	4h 25m
Granada–Seville	3h 07m
Seville–Valencia	3h 50m
Valencia–Barcelona	2h 59m
Madrid–Barcelona	2h 30m

AVE seating chart

Please note: this chart is for your information only, it may be different from the actual train seating layout.

Why choose Renfe?

• Renfe e-tickets are ideal for travelers who want to make a non-stop point to point rail trip;
• Several train types and seat classes: “Regular” trains (First or Standard classes) or High Speed AVE trains with Turista (standard class), Preferente (first class) or Club (first class) options;
• Wide range of ticket prices depending on train type and car class;
• Fully electronic ticket booking and issuing process;
• The Customer purchases an e-ticket and receives it as a PDF document. The e-ticket can be printed from home and is valid for travel.

Renfe e-ticket fare tariffs

There are 3 types of e-ticket fares:

• RENFE E-TICKET — the e-ticket offers a basic fare with no discount.
• RENFE PROMO E-TICKET — the e-ticket offers variable prices depending on travel time and the time of booking.
• RENFE PROMO+ E-TICKET — the e-ticket offers variable prices depending on travel time and the time of booking. It also allows for change and cancellation.

PLEASE NOTE: Renfe e-tickets for domestic rail journey in Spain are valid for seats and train specified therein.

See detailed information on e-ticket fare tariffs.  

Onboard services

Services	Turista (Standard class)	Preferente (First class)	Club* (First class)
Air conditioning	Yes	Yes	Yes
Comfortable seats	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cafeteria car selling light meals, snacks and drinks	Yes	Yes	Yes
Baby changing facilities and play areas	Yes	Yes	Yes
Power socket, TV screen and radio at each seat	Yes	Yes	Yes
Access to AVE’s VIP lounge (with TV, newspapers,   internet access)		Yes	Yes
Free Parking (24h one-way ticket; 48h round trip ticket)		Yes	Yes
Hot meals served at your seat (no extra charge)		Yes	Yes
Table at your seat			Yes
Drinks served at your seat			Yes

*Note that Club First Class services are not available on all AVE trains

Transportation rules

Luggage

Passengers can bring up to 2 large pieces of luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage. The total weight for all three pieces of luggage must not exceed 20 kg. Each piece of luggage should not be larger than 250 cm.

Bicycles

Bicycles are not allowed on AVE trains, even in a bike bag. If you need to travel with your bicycle, you will have to take an alternative train such as a night train, regular or regional trains that do carry bikes.

Animals

If you’re traveling with a pet, please keep in mind that you will need a reservation for your pet. Reservations for animals must be made locally, prior to travel. You can carry small animals in containers no larger than 60x35x35 cm. The container weight must not exceed 6 kg.

Accessibility

AVE trains include space and facilities for travelers with reduced mobility and special needs. Wheelchairs with maximum dimensions of 70 cm wide, 130 cm long and 140 cm tall are allowed on board. Larger chairs are only accepted if they can be folded and the passenger is able to use a regular seat on the train.

Ramps are available on AVE trains in order to help passengers to board and to get off the train. If you require assistance for traveling on the train, it is advisable to arrive to the train station at least half an hour prior to departure.

What is Renfe-SNCF?

E-tickets for France-Spain high speed routes run on the international France-Spain high speed network. It’s now faster and more enjoyable than ever to travel between Spain and France by rail with scenic highlights including the Alps and the Pyrenees Mountains.

France–Spain high speed trains

Travel between Paris and Barcelona in as little as 6 hours and 25 minutes! The France-Spain high speed network includes connections to such cities as Paris, Marseilles, Lyon, Toulouse, Madrid, Barcelona, Figueres and some more.

Why choose Renfe-SNCF?

• Travel on high speed train network to many destinations in France and Spain;
• Available in Primera (first class) and Segunda (second class);
• First-class travelers (Primera) have access to the First-class lounge 2 hours prior to departure;
• The Customer purchases an e-ticket and receives it as a PDF document. The e-ticket can be printed from home and is valid for travel.

Map of destinations

Renfe-SNCF e-ticket fare tariffs

There are 2 types of e-ticket fares:

• ESSENTIAL E-TICKET
  
• FLEXI E-TICKET
  

See detailed information on e-ticket fare tariffs.

What is TGV?

TGV trains operate all over France, with various connections to neighbouring countries

The TGV (high-speed train) with record speeds of up to 574,8 km/h is one of the fastest trains in the world. All TGV trains have a self-service restaurant car.

Why choose TGV?

• Travel available in the first and second classes;
• Bar carriage in each train.

Services on TGV trains

• First class: dining at your seat (only on certain connections), electrical outlets, reading lamps, taxi booking for Paris, wheelchair compartment;
• Second class: family compartment, office niche with electrical outlets.

PLEASE NOTE: for traveling in France, TGV seats must be reserved. TGV e-tickets for international rail journey in France and Spain are valid for seats and train specified therein.

Map of destinations

Accessibility

Ticket reservations and requests for assistance if needed can only be made by calling (+34) 902 24 05 05 at least 12 hours before train departure.

What is Thalys?

Thalys trains connect Belgium, France, Germany and The Netherlands. More than 20 trains run every day between Paris and Bruxelles, 10 of them also link to Amsterdam. 16 Fyra trains run daily between Amsterdam and Bruxelles as well as other cities in the Netherlands.

Why choose Thalys:

• Special prices are applied depending on passenger category and length of stay;
• Comfort booking, refund and exchange procedures;
• The traditional 1st and 2nd classes have been renamed to “Comfort 1” and “Comfort 2” calling to mind the idea that the scope, not the quality, of service makes the main difference between them;
• Comfort 1 Passengers are served a light meal or a snack and drink
• Minibar option for both classes.

Map of destinations

Estimated travel time for some routes

Itinerary	Estimated travel time
Paris–Bruxelles	1h 22m
Paris–Amsterdam	1h 53m
Paris–Liège	2h 10m
Paris–Antwerpen	2h 04m
Paris–Oostende	2h 40m
Paris–Namur	2h 18m
Paris– Cologne	3h 15m
Amsterdam–Bruxelles	1h 52m
Bruxelles–Rotterdam	1h 14m
Bruxelles–Schiphol	1h 37m
Bruxelles–Amsterdam	1h 55m

What is ICE?

ICE trains connect Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland and Denmark. All ICE trains provide state-of-the art comfort and special amenities. The Passengers enjoy spectacular view of the landscape.

With a maximum speed of 320 km/h (199 mph) the Intercity-Express (ICE) high-speed-trains operate all over Germany, with many connections to neighbouring countries such as Austria (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck), Belgium (Brussels, Liège), France (Paris), the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Utrecht, Arnhem), Denmark (Copenhagen, Arhus) and Switzerland (Basel, Zürich, Bern, Interlaken).

Why choose ICE?

• Each ICE train has a Bordrestaurant (restaurant car) and/or a self-service Bordbistro (bar carriage);
• Panoramic lounge at each end of the train set;
• In-seat video screens;
• Integral audio system;
• Plugs for computer notebooks and laptops;
• Telecommunication zones for undisturbed reception of mobile phone signals;
• All ICE trains are non-smoking trains.

Map of destinations

Estimated travel time for some routes

Itinerary	Estimated travel time
Frankfurt–Paris	3h 50m
Berlin–Frankfurt	3h 29m
Berlin–Frankfurt	3h 29m
Frankfurt–Hamburg	3h 25m
Berlin–Hamburg	1h 32m
Frankfurt–Munich	3h 10m
Hamburg–Munich	5h 30m
Frankfurt–Cologne	1h 10m
Frankfurt–Amsterdam	3h 52m
Frankfurt–Brussels	3h 00m

ICE train technical features

• Maximum speed: 230 km/h
• Length: 185 m
• 381 seats, 53 of which in the first class
• Restaurant with 24 seats
• 4000 kW
• Mass: 368 tons