Trains in Andalucia

Train crash in Toledo - 28th October 2026

At least 68 people died and 56 hospitalised in a serious condition following the train crash that took place at 08.53 hrs on Wednesday, 28 October 2026,  at Urda, 50km south of Toledo. This was nine months after the Adamuz accident, which also occurred on the Madrid-Seville route. A RENFE AVE train (AVE 02080 the 08.00 hrs Madrid Atocha to Seville Santa Justa) with 397 passengers onboard crashed into the back of a stationary Iryo train (IRYO 6067 the 07.54 hrs also Madrid Atocha to Seville Santa Justa) causing carriages to derail and fall down an embankment.

At approximately 08.30 hrs, the wayside LZB train protection equipment at Urda suffered an IT outage, bringing trains on the surrounding section of high speed line to a stand, as the ATP equipment is designed to do under fail-safe protocols.. Some reports says six trains on the line were brought to a halt.

The control centre in Madrid then instructed the two (or possibly more) trains to proceed under emergency rules. ADIF later released a recording in which a controller could be heard instructing the AVE at train to 'Desconecte y vuelva a conectar. Reanude la marcha al amparo del BSL con marcha normal' (Switch off and then switch back on. Resume under visual operation at normal speed); an instruction which conflicted with the standard operating procedures.  BSL obliges the driver to proceed under caution at 40 km/h based on the visibility of the line ahead. The driver should then be able to stop before any obstacle. 

26km ahead at 08.41 hrs the Iryo received the same instruction, but remained stationary. The driver called control back at 08.48 hrs; to say his train was still stuck because he couldn’t restart the train using the LZB system. Five minutes later RENFE AVE train crashed into the back of the Iryo at over 100 km per hour. LZB is an older  system only used on the 1992 Madrid to Andalucia lines.

We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this accident.

Renfe announce that is was suspending ticket sales between Madrid and Andalucia (Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and Granada) until 13th December. Ouigo untill 2nd November. 

Updated 29-10-2026 at 07.30

TRAINS IN ANDALUCIA

By Fiona Flores Watson

The Spanish railway network was run by the state-owned company Renfe (Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles). Since 2005 the management of the infrastructure including tracks, signalling and stations is carried out by ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias). In recent years, Renfe and Adif have made a tremendous investment in Spain's railway network, particularly in the new high-speed (Alta Velocidad Española, or AVE) rail system.

 

Shuttle Direct - Malaga Airport Transfers

Book your direct and hassle-free transfer direct from Málaga Airport to your hotel or holiday-rental and return. Choose from minibus to private car with driver.

Buy High Speed Train Tickets

Trainline offers tickets to and from multiple destinations across Andalucia and Spain including the high-speed AVE train.

New low-cost, high-speed trains

Iryo
Italian operator Iryo launched its Madrid to Malaga via Cordoba and Antequera service and its Madrid to Seville via Cordoba service on 31st March 2023 with two trains a day in each direction. Trains are painted in a distinctive red livery.

Avlo
RENFE’s low-cost brand Avlo launched its Madrid to Malaga and Madrid to Seville service on 1st June 2023 with one train a day on each route in each direction. Later in the summer the Malaga route was increased to two a day in each directions. Intermediate stops from Malaga are Antequera Santa Ana, Puente Genil, Cordoba, Los Pedroches, Puertollano and Cuidad Real. Intermediate stops from Seville are Cordoba, Los Pedroches - Puertollano and Cuidad Real. The service comprises refurbished AVE units on one class painted in distinctive purple livery.  The buffet car is replaced by vending machines.

Ouigo
On 16th January 2025 French SNCF operator Ouigo launch Madrid to Seville and Madrid to Seville and Madrid to Malaga service. The SNCF Euroduplex train units are distinctive ‘double decker’ units with 509 seats and a buffet service. The launch was delayed at least three times due to complication to adapt the units to Spanish ADIF signalling systems. Trains are painted white with distinctive large blue and red spot livery.

Commuter train passes

Spain's free commuter train passes were introduced in September 2022 as an environmental measure to get people out of their cars and onto trains, cutting CO2 emissions. The passes were open to all nationalities, not just Spanish citizens and residents, and covered Renfe Cercanías (commuter), Rodalies and conventional Media Distancia (medium-distance) services. Travellers paid a small refundable deposit and had to make a minimum number of journeys to get it back. The scheme was renewed in four-month periods and expected to end in December 2024. It was extended again for January to April 2025, then for a final two months, May and June 2025, before ending on 30 June 2025. Free travel was replaced on 1 July 2025 by a single €20 monthly Cercanías pass, valid on every commuter network in Spain, including Málaga and Seville. Under-26s pay €10, and children aged 14 and under travel free. Medium-distance monthly passes are discounted by up to 70%. These discounts have been extended through 2026. On 19 January 2026 they were joined by the new Abono Único, a €60 monthly flat-rate pass (€30 for under-26s) giving unlimited travel on Cercanías, Media Distancia trains and state-run long-distance buses across Spain. It does not cover AVE, Avlo or Alvia high-speed trains, or local metro, tram and city bus services.

Tarjeta Dorada card - Discounts for over-60s

This is a discount card that can be purchased by the over-60s and used to obtain discount on train tickets of 25% to 40%. The Tarjeta Dorada discount card may be purchased at train station ticket offices and travel agents and costs 6€ for one year. You must provide documentation to prove your age and should provide to show you are a Spaish resident such as Spanish ID Card (DNI), Foreign Resident ID Card (NIE) or Passport (mentioned in RENFE Terms and conditions as well). It may be renewed online 6€ for one, 12€ for two and 15€ for three years. It can be used on all AVE (high-speed), Larga Distancia (Long Distance), Avant (mid-distance high-speed) for a 25% dicount Monday to Friday and 40% at Weekends. It can be used on Regional trains (metric or Iberian gauge) and Cercanías (Commuter) trains for 40% discount every day. It may be purchaed at ticket office inmediately before pruchasing the train ticket if there is no queue for inmediate tickets.

Here we offer you a guide to Andalucia’s convenient rail network and ticketing system.

Train Stations in Andalucia

Here is a table which lists the AVE and other main train stations found in Andalucía.

 

Shuttle Direct - Malaga Airport Transfers

Book your direct and hassle-free transfer direct from Málaga Airport to your hotel or holiday-rental and return. Choose from minibus to private car with driver.

Buy High Speed Train Tickets

Trainline offers tickets to and from multiple destinations across Andalucia and Spain including the high-speed AVE train.

TYPES OF TRAINS

TICKETS

Medium distance train

It is advisable to buy tickets in advance. This can be done on the RENFE website or by an online agent whose website is fully operational in English. Andalucia.com have affiliate partnered with Trainline for online RENFE and other operator tickets.  You can also order tickets by phone, at the station itself, or at a RENFE appointed travel agent (small commission).

You can buy your ticket up to 60 days before your travel date. In the first two cases, you are either given a booking reference, which you then use to print out the tickets themselves from a machine at the main station, or you can print them out at home.

If you're travelling at the weekend or on a holiday or puente (long weekend), it is even more important to buy your ticket beforehand as the station may well be extremely busy, and seats may sell out.

If you're buying your ticket from the station on the same day you're travelling, arrive with plenty of time to spare, as queues can be long. Make sure you choose the right queue: if you're travelling within six hours, choose 'venta inmediata'; for further in advance, it's 'venta anticipada'. Also, you need to know which type of ticket you're buying. If you're sure you know what you're doing (type of ticket, service etc), you can even buy your ticket at an automatic machine.

Timetables and Tickets

Below are a selection of the most popular AVE train routes in Andalucia, click on the buttons to take you through to affiliate partner - The Trainline. Click on you route below, input your dates, check the timetables for your trains and if desired buy an eTicket with seat reservation.

 

Santa Justa train station in Seville

FARES AND REFUNDS

Book in advance for the most economical fares; the best offers are online. Some services, including the AVE and fast long-distance services, offer a discount on the return leg of your journey.

Children under four travel free (under six on Cercanias), providing they don't occupy a seat; from aged four to eleven they get a 40% discount. If you have three or more children and live in Spain, you can apply for a "Familia Numerosa" card and obtain a 20 percent discount for all family members.

You can also find fares reduced by between 25 and 40%, for those aged under 26 years (Carnet Joven), or over 60 (Tarjeta Dorada, for Spanish residents).

Ticket costs may be partially or fully refunded if a train does not arrive on time, depending on the cause of the delay and how late the train arrives at its final destination. Be sure to save your proof of purchase, and if your train arrives late, ask a RENFE representative for more information regarding whether you're eligible for a refund and, if so, how to obtain one.

CLASSES

The faster trains (AVE, for example - see below) offer different classes (club, preferente, turista) compartments. First class offers reclining seat, refreshments served at your seat; while both classes have audio/video on AVE and fast long-distance services. All trains are non-smoking.

PASSES

Eurail Spain-Portugal pass offers five days of unlimited travel within one-month period.

PETS AND BIKES

You can take a small pet with you on the train (cats, dogs, birds, weighing up to 6kg, in a cage measuring maximum 65x35x35 cm). Only one animal allowed per passenger. The fare is 50% of the normal tariff. You can take your bike on trains, but subject to space available.

REFRESHMENTS

Most local and medium-distance trains will have snack and soft drink dispensing machine; the faster ones also have a cafeteria service, offering hot and cold soft drinks, alcohol, snacks and sandwiches.

Lost Property

Lost property found on trains or stations is kept by RENFE, Here is the lost property page on the RENFE website (in Spainsh) with contact details. RENFE the train operator use the ADIF (Stations operator) lost property system at https://www.objetosperdidosestaciones.adif.es/   You can also  send an email to [email protected]    Lost property is held for a month and official documentation handed to the police after 24hrs. Objects not claimed are placed in a public auction.

If lost on the local ‘Cercanias' trains and stations call the following numbers:
Cádiz : 856 170 290.
Málaga : 952 128 079.
Sevilla : 954 485 672.

Disabled Facilities

Renfe Atendo service provides free assistance for railway passengers with reduced mobility or other disabilities. As a specialised service, it offers passengers guidance, information and help with access to and transit at stations, as well as assistance for getting on and off trains. Here is the Atendo service section on RENFE website. 

First Class tapas aborad the Iryo Train from Andalucia to Madrid © Michelle Chaplow

Different rail services offered

• International trains More>
• High-speed long-distance trains (AVE) More>
• Fast long-distance and medium-distance trains More>
• Ordinary medium-distance (regional) trains More>
• Local commuter trains (Cercanias) More>

AVE the High-speed long-distance train routes in Andalucia

ALVIA, ALTARIA, TALGO - Faster Long Distant and AVANT

Slower Medium distance (MD) Regional Train Routes and INTERCITY long distance