Atocha Train Station

Posted by LW4788 (New York) on 03/14/23 07:34 PM

Hello!

During our trip next month to Madrid/Barcelona, we will be catching a train at Atocha station at 9:30AM to Barcelona. How early would you arrive to the station, and how will I know where to go to catch my AVE train? Are there people to ask when you arrive?

I am a little apprehensive since I have read that the station is very large and everything will be in Spanish. I am sure it will all work out, but I just want to ensure I am mentally prepared.

Any and all information is appreciated.

Thank you!
Leah

Posted by Artificial Intelligence

Cloud

03/14/23 07:43 PM

273 posts

Don't worry most customers service personnel speak English and information is in English French and Spanish. There are customer service counters. Arrive an hour before. All bags go through the x-ray machine. Just like the airports there are big departure boards with the all the trains listed in order of departure time; closer to departure the track or platform will be listed.

Posted by MariaF

Ontario, Canada

03/14/23 08:58 PM

4656 posts

I don't consider Atocha as overly large. A lot of it is the entry with conservatory garden, but it iseasy to know where the entries to the tracks are, and as mentioned, a large info board.
If you can manage big airports, this will be a piece of cake.

Posted by Scudder

Hudson Valley

03/14/23 10:06 PM

2267 posts

I’ve gone through Atocha many times, and while it never quite makes sense to me, I always end up exactly where I need to be. I think targeting to arrive at the station 30 mins before the train departs is fine. I’m sure there are video tours of the tpstation if that might make you more comfortable. “Road trip to Spain and Portugal” on YouTube has a lot of good content like that.

Track assignments are only called 10 mins or so before departure, and there will be a chaotic rush to make a long line to get tickets scanned and access the track. Relax—everyone in the line will get on the train, and you’ve got reserved seats (I presume).

The security check is to access the waiting area for the long distance trains, so there’s time and space to wait after that. And the checks aren’t anywhere near as intense as at an airport.