My husband had neck surgery and his doctor recommends that he only ride facing forward. Our seat assignments are 6 A/B & 8 C/D on the return. I haven't been able to find a seat map for the Madrid-Toledo Avant Train but if these seats are facing backwards how should I go about trying to get forward facing seats?
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Some seat plans are here: https://www.seat61.com/Europe-train-seat-plans.htm#Spain
The information for the Avant lists three different models, but no seat plans
Avant S-104: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/nuestros_trenes/avant_s104.html
Avant S-114: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/nuestros_trenes/avant_s114.html
Avant S-121: http://www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/nuestros_trenes/avant_s121.html
This is a common newbie question, but difficult to answer.
Trains are symmetrical and bidirectional. Seats which are facing forwards from Madrid to Toledo, are facing backwards from Toledo to Madrid, and vice-versa.
And in some cases they change direction en route.
And in some cases it depends which way they came out of the depot in the morning, a seat could be facing backwards one day and forwards the next.
I don't want to disagree with your doctor, but has (s)he ever been on a train? The amounts of jolts are an order of magnitude less that in a road vehicle or an airplane, and are the same whether you travel forwards or backwards.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
17455 posts
As Chris F explains, seat orientation depends on the direction of travel and you will not know that until you board. If it is wrong, perhaps you can find someone to switch with you, or there may be empty seats you can move to.
It is only a 33 minute ride and there are no intermediate stops, so it may not matter all that much.