Importance Of Rail Train In Spain

Spanish Railways
Spain is one of the most economically developed countries in Eurozone. The country has a strong and well-established transportation network, in which an important role is played by the system of railway communication. Rail transport, as an important part of the overall transport network of the country, is closely linked and well coordinated with the systems of road, sea and air transport. There is a line of the high-speed train (AVE), which constitute a strong competition to air transport, especially in the direction of Madrid-Barcelona.

History of the Spanish railroads

On the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in Spain, the first railway line was built in 1848. It is still active and has a length of about 30 kilometers and

In 1841, simultaneously with the nationalization of the Spanish railways, RENFE company was founded. In 2005, RENFE was divided into ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias - infrastructure company) and Renfe Operadora (operating company engaged in passenger and cargo transportation).

Types of trains in Spain

1. Commuter train
Commuter trains connect the provincial capitals with the surrounding cities and towns, as well as the neighboring provinces. Suburban trains belong to the urban transport network, and the radius of the journey is usually not more than 60 kilometers. Trains can arrive and depart from the open land platforms. In large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, a system of single tunnels for rail and metro is used. On the way to the city, Spanish commuter trains dive under the ground, dropping off and picking up new passengers directly in the station buildings.

2. Medium-distance trains
They connect the adjacent regions. Typically, these trains are called regional. Medium-distance trains network is divided into five major zones, each zone has lines that have different load: starting from 1-2 trains per day to the heavy traffic of more than 10

At constant prices, the journey by rail differs by practically zero risks, weather conditions independence, and there is no need to arrive at the airport with the lead time for the registration and security check, the ability to use mobile phones and laptops.

Tourist routes
In Spain, you can take a week-long guided tour in a comfortable "hotel on wheels» called Transcantábrico. The basis of the idea of the tourist train is the myth of the Orient Express. Since 2009, the train follows along the northern coast of Spain from San Sebastian to Santiago de Compostela with multiple stops and sightseeing excursions throughout the route. There are also short trails in the suburbs of Barcelona, Madrid, and Mallorca. Usually, for these trips old restored trains are used.

Schedules and fares of the Spanish railways
The information on fares and timetables of all types of trains is available at travel agencies, booking offices and on the Renfe official website. There you can also buy tickets for middle and long-distance trains and high-speed