Some trains free in Spain in September

[J Willhaus]

Spain to introduce free train journeys from September

Spain to make some train journeys free from September | CNN

Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts.

www.cnn.com

Phil and I have been criss crossing theNorth of Spain on bus and rail the past week or so. Apparently commuter rail (Cercanías) and Media Distance (MD) lines will be no charge starting in September. I will watch for more information and post. I don't know if you will still need a ticket or if you just board. On the MD trains we did have assigned seats.

 

[wisepilgrim]

Spain to introduce free train journeys from September

Spain to make some train journeys free from September | CNN

Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts.

www.cnn.com

Phil and I have been criss crossing theNorth of Spain on bus and rail the past week or so. Apparently commuter rail (Cercanis) and Media Distance (MD) lines will be no charge starting in September. I will watch for more information and post. I don't know if you will still need a ticket or if you just board. On the MD trains we did have assigned seats.

You will need a ticket, specifically a multi-pass ticket.

 

[DenWhite]

It was reported on my news notifications this morning. AS mentioned here, does not apply to single trips. You need to make a multi trip booking for it to apply. $0 'Good value'.

 

[wisepilgrim]

It was reported on my news notifications this morning. AS mentioned here, does not apply to single trips. You need to make a multi trip booking for it to apply. $0 'Good value'.

Exactly. But the very clever article I read mentioned that it wasn’t obligatory to use all of the trips, only that you needed that type of ticket. Buy 10, use only 1.

This isn’t something that is super useful for pilgrims. It does apply to the A Coruña - Vigo train though, and since that passes through Santiago you have a free path to two popular places.

 

[lt56ny]

Exactly. But the very clever article I read mentioned that it wasn’t obligatory to use all of the trips, only that you needed that type of ticket. Buy 10, use only 1.

This isn’t something that is super useful for pilgrims. It does apply to the A Coruña - Vigo train though, and since that passes through Santiago you have a free path to two popular places.

I have a question and you seem to be "wise" about this subject. If I get a 10 multi trip ticket it is free and I can use it to go from Barcelona to Zaragoza in October? Is it for all routes? If not I would assume that Barcelona-Zaragoza would be a popular route that this would apply. Also for a not so popular route in October, Zaragoza to Canfranc Estacion? Just go to the train station and get it or does it need to be online?
Sorry for all the questions.

 

[J Willhaus]

Our tickets from Zaragoza to Canfranc say it is a Regional train so I don't think this fare class would apply.

 

[wisepilgrim]

I have a question and you seem to be "wise" about this subject. If I get a 10 multi trip ticket it is free and I can use it to go from Barcelona to Zaragoza in October? Is it for all routes? If not I would assume that Barcelona-Zaragoza would be a popular route that this would apply. Also for a not so popular route in October, Zaragoza to Canfranc Estacion? Just go to the train station and get it or does it need to be online?
Sorry for all the questions.

I don’t think that we have received that level of detail yet. Renfe is busy making pronouncements one-by-one about which fares qualify. I suspect it will be a few weeks before the full details are out.

 

[Momwiz]

I don’t think that we have received that level of detail yet. Renfe is busy making pronouncements one-by-one about which fares qualify. I suspect it will be a few weeks before the full details are out.

How do we check with Renfe about the qualifying fares?

 

[lt56ny]

I don’t think that we have received that level of detail yet. Renfe is busy making pronouncements one-by-one about which fares qualify. I suspect it will be a few weeks before the full details are out.

Thanks for the information. I am sure with a careful reading of the subsequent posts regarding this that more information will come to light.

 

[Tincatinker]

How do we check with Renfe about the qualifying fares?

https://www.renfe.com/es/en is probably the place to start but RENFE's website is notoriously user un-friendly and devoid of information regarding this scheme at present.

Students of the arcane might like to consider just how much fun it would be "buying" a "free" monthly pass https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/asturias-suburban/fares/passes/limited-monthly-pass for each leg of any possible journey as against just buying a ticket for the journey they want to make on the day they want to make it. This is a scheme intended to support rail commuters in Spain, not Pilgrims

 

[Mary Mc]

Spain to introduce free train journeys from September

Spain to make some train journeys free from September | CNN

Public transport prices on state-owned service across Spain have already been slashed in half in response to rapidly rising energy and inflation rates. Now the government has announced further 100% discounts.

www.cnn.com

Phil and I have been criss crossing theNorth of Spain on bus and rail the past week or so. Apparently commuter rail (Cercanis) and Media Distance (MD) lines will be no charge starting in September. I will watch for more information and post. I don't know if you will still need a ticket or if you just board. On the MD trains we did have assigned seats.

thanks for sharing this. I am going to walk the Camino de Frances in September and have a couple of trains to take while I am in Spain, so this is very welcome news

 

[J Willhaus]

Los trenes Avant quedan excluidos de la gratuidad de la media distancia, aunque siguen a mitad de precio - http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notici...guen-mitad-precio/00031657830768997324864.htm

This update indicates that Media Distance trains such as the ones between Santiago and other nearby towns will not be free, but only half price.

 

[Kathor1]

http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notici...guen-mitad-precio/00031657830768997324864.htm

And a quote from the article: “the measure [free train rides during September to December on specific lines] is intended to concentrate its effects on the daily commute to work or school.”

And here is a description of what “media distancia” trains are in the context of Spanish Rail and in the context of these free train rides: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renfe_Media_Distancia

 

[Kathor1]

Also, the way I understand this system you cannot book any of these free tickets / free trips on the internet. You must acquire a multi-trip card or “abono” like “Bono 10 Regional” or similar at a desk in a station or from a machine. This may be a bit of a hurdle for one or the other foreign pilgrim who may not be overly familiar with the ins and outs of using regional trains in Spain. Or not worth the hassle, for example for a single trip on the Cercanias line in Madrid to get from the airport to the Atocha or Chamartin stations. I would probably just get my ticket the usual way and thereby support the Spanish economy.

 

[J Willhaus]

Yes, agree it may not help pilgrims, but good to know as it may increase the overall ridership.

 

[Kanga]

Sounds like a visit to the train station is needed.

Oh the horrors of waiting in the "line of despair" in the ticket office at Atoche ("linea de espera").

 

[SabsP]

Sounds like a visit to the train station is needed.

Oh the horrors of waiting in the "line of despair" in the ticket office at Atoche ("linea de espera").

Although if you have to wait somewhere then the gorgeous station of Atocha is not such a bad option!

For those new to Atocha :

Madrid Atocha station - a short guide

A simple illustrated guide to Madrid Atocha railway station for travellers.

www.seat61.com

 

[Kanga]

Although if you have to wait somewhere then the gorgeous station of Atocha is not such a bad option!

For those new to Atocha :

Madrid Atocha station - a short guide

A simple illustrated guide to Madrid Atocha railway station for travellers.

www.seat61.com

True! It is beautiful. But no seats in or near the queuing line. It was on a public holiday when people were trying to go everywhichwhere and had questions that the ticket machines would not answer.

 

[Mycroft]

And a quote from the article: “the measure [free train rides during September to December on specific lines] is intended to concentrate its effects on the daily commute to work or school.”

And here is a description of what “media distancia” trains are in the context of Spanish Rail and in the context of these free train rides: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renfe_Media_Distancia

Maybe it is my dyslexia, but I am having trouble figuring out this set up, which is to say I arrive in MAD at the beginning of Sept and that afternoon want to get to Ponferrada. I have been checking Renfe and Omio on and off the last couple of months but they don't seem to have a schedule yet for travel in Sept. Maybe I am incorrectly putting in the request for that train?
Now I am looking at these posts of free Sept travel for medium distances, which makes me think MAD to Ponferrada won't qualify.
So 2 questions--are the trains from MAD airport to Ponferrada in this freebie, and is the Sept schedule really not available yet?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Kathor1]

I have been checking Renfe and Omio on and off the last couple of months but they don't seem to have a schedule yet for travel in Sept

Fwiw, on Renfe.com (and Safari on iPad), I have no problems with consulting the timetable for September for Madrid-Ponferrada and I can also start the process of buying a ticket Madrid-Ponferrada for the 7th of September for example. I did not check the type of trains for these connections; in any case, Alvia, Ave and even Avant trains are excluded from the free ride offer. Also, it has been made clear that this 100% price reduction is not meant for a single trip or a return trip but for train passengers who travel the same distance repeatedly and hold multi-trip cards such as Bono 10 regional; Tarjeta 10 sencilla; Tarjeta 10 libre; Abono mensual regional; Tarjeta mensual sencilla.

As far as I understand it, if a pilgrim-tourist wants to exploit any loopholes of the free ride offer s/he has to get one of these cards even though it does not cost anything. One cannot just step on a train without any kind of travel card or ticket.

 

[Tincatinker]

Maybe it is my dyslexia, but I am having trouble figuring out this set up, which is to say I arrive in MAD at the beginning of Sept and that afternoon want to get to Ponferrada. I have been checking Renfe and Omio on and off the last couple of months but they don't seem to have a schedule yet for travel in Sept. Maybe I am incorrectly putting in the request for that train?
Now I am looking at these posts of free Sept travel for medium distances, which makes me think MAD to Ponferrada won't qualify.
So 2 questions--are the trains from MAD airport to Ponferrada in this freebie, and is the Sept schedule really not available yet?
Thanks for any advice.

Trains are available 1 Sept & onward. https://venta.renfe.com/vol/search.do?c=_ITNg

Worth noting there are no direct trains so also worth searching trains Mad to Palencia, Palencia to Ponferrada as two separate journeys. May increase the options.

And no, no freebies.

 

[Mycroft]

Trains are available 1 Sept & onward. https://venta.renfe.com/vol/search.do?c=_ITNg

Worth noting there are no direct trains so also worth searching trains Mad to Palencia, Palencia to Ponferrada as two separate journeys. May increase the options.

And no, no freebies.

Thanks, Tintin (if you don't mind me calling you that!), for this info. I wondered if there was a trick to connect from one place to another and on to Ponferrada. I have come across websites over the years that just say there is no train but they don't explain go from A to B to C to get where you want to go. Unless one is from that area, I am not sure how one figures it out. Oh, it must be through Friendlies like we have on the Forum!! Thanks again.

 

[Mycroft]

Fwiw, on Renfe.com (and Safari on iPad), I have no problems with consulting the timetable for September for Madrid-Ponferrada and I can also start the process of buying a ticket Madrid-Ponferrada for the 7th of September for example. I did not check the type of trains for these connections; in any case, Alvia, Ave and even Avant trains are excluded from the free ride offer. Also, it has been made clear that this 100% price reduction is not meant for a single trip or a return trip but for train passengers who travel the same distance repeatedly and hold multi-trip cards such as Bono 10 regional; Tarjeta 10 sencilla; Tarjeta 10 libre; Abono mensual regional; Tarjeta mensual sencilla.

As far as I understand it, if a pilgrim-tourist wants to exploit any loopholes of the free ride offer s/he has to get one of these cards even though it does not cost anything. One cannot just step on a train without any kind of travel card or ticket.

Ummm you are saying on renfe.com you can see train schedules from mad to ponferrada????????????? What am I doing wrong?????????? Back to the laptop!

As to the multi-trip cards, I thought I read that they could be used if one was going to do some day trips after the pilgrimage is finished. Did I misinterpret?

 

[SabsP]

Ummm you are saying on renfe.com you can see train schedules from mad to ponferrada????????????? What am I doing wrong?????????? Back to the laptop!

As to the multi-trip cards, I thought I read that they could be used if one was going to do some day trips after the pilgrimage is finished. Did I misinterpret?

Plenty of trains between Madrid and Ponferrada.

Renfe - Mi tarjeta Más Renfe

PAGINAS OFICIALES DE RENFE, HORARIOS, RESERVA, VENTA, BILLETES, ALQUILER

venta.renfe.com

 

[Mikel Olivares]

Really?????
You believe it......

 

[J Willhaus]

Here is an update with more news from one of the papers in Galicia. To get the free rides you pay 20 euros deposit and must complete 16 rides minimum to get your deposit back. It is meant for commuters and not occasional riders. In some areas it is only a 50% discount and not entirely free. Past into a chrome browser to get the English translation.
Renfe abre el lunes el registro en su web para obtener los abonos gratuitos del tren - http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notici...os-gratuitos-tren/00031659693875621739684.htm

 

[Former member 102963]

Here is an update with more news from one of the papers in Galicia. To get the free rides you pay 20 euros deposit and must complete 16 rides minimum to get your deposit back. It is meant for commuters and not occasional riders. In some areas it is only a 50% discount and not entirely free. Past into a chrome browser to get the English translation.
Renfe abre el lunes el registro en su web para obtener los abonos gratuitos del tren - http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/notici...os-gratuitos-tren/00031659693875621739684.htm

Good info thank you!