madrid puerta atocha

AVE trains use two levels at Atocha. The train from Toledo uses the lower level, and the train from Barcelona uses the upper level; I don't know which one the train from Seville uses.

If the Seville train arrives at the lower level, you will have plenty of time; all you have to do is get off the train, go into the lounge, and watch the monitor to see which track your Toledo train is departing from. If it arrives at the upper level, IMMEDIATELY upon arrival go to the elevator that connects the upper and lower levels; it's outside the lounge, near the high number tracks. If you don't see it, ask for it. By using this elevator, you don't have to go through security again, and you won't get lost in Atocha Station (it's very confusing - and I say this as someone who can find his way in New York Penn Station!). If you have to change levels you should still be fine. I had a half hour to change trains on different levels, and had time to kill; however, I was traveling alone and not with a child.

Can be tricky... it all depends on which platform you arrive into and from which one you depart, also whether you're taking a high-speed train -which requires going thru security. Atocha is a large station. Here you can see its plan: http://www.adif.es/es_ES//infraestructuras/planos/estaciones/plano_60000.pdf Twenty minutes -noting you don't know your way around- is rather cutting it very short, but not necessarily impossible.

edit, ah, Harold is right, if you take the elevator from the upper platform to the lower one you don't need to pass security again

thank you for the help. Do I need to buy the toledo tickets in advance? we are going in mid july.

Rick warns about occasional sell-outs on transportation back to Madrid from Toledo late in the day. Honestly, I don't remember whether that was just buses or also trains. It would only be an issue if the train had reserved seats (others can't sell out). I took the bus, so I'm hazy on this.

One reason I would consider buying the ticket in advance is that Atocha can be a zoo, with long lines at staffed ticket counters. There are user-friendly vending machines, but first you need to figure out which type to use for the particular type of train you want to take. Sometimes there are Renfe emplyees (uniformed) wandering around in the ticket lobby who will point you in the right direction. The vending machimes take currency if you have a problem with your US credit card, but I suspect they may not like bills larger than 20€.

15-20 minutes or more before arrival, make your way to the front of the train. If you are several coaches back when you get off, you'll be with the stream of debarking people and won't be able to move quickly. Also take into account that trains close their doors 2 minutes before departure, so you must be on the train before 10.18. Yes, you'll have to buy tickets in advance - you simply won't have time to buy tickets in Madrid. Sometimes tickets sell out (it's a popular day-trip destination from Madrid, on the other hand, there are earlier trains that presumably would be more attractive), so it's probably a good idea to buy them a day or two in advance while you're in Sevilla.

If you don't have your Toledo tickets in hand, there is NO WAY you will make a 20 minute connection in Atocha!

Atocha is a very large and confusing station with multiple levels. And, you have to go through security to get to your platform, and they close the train doors a few minutes before departure. So, arriving at Atocha from Seville + finding your way through the station to the ticket machines/windows + waiting in line + buying the tickets + getting to the lower level for departure to Toledo + going through security = a lot more than 20 minutes!

So, buy your tickets now for Seville to Madrid and Madrid to Toledo. Use the Renfe website, following this tutorial: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html. Use Paypal, since the Renfe site rarely works with US credit cards. You will get print-at-home tickets, so you'll have the tickets with you and be able to go directly to the trains.

Quangvxn,

You've received good advise already, but I will add my 2 cents...

My mom (age 88 at the time) and I traveled from Sevilla to Toledo via Madrid in the Fall of 2015.
As previously mentioned, Puerta de Atocha is a huge train station!
I don't quite recall which level we arrived in from Sevilla, but it was a different level from where the train to Toledo departs.

It's a good idea to buy your tickets (departure and return) a day or two in advance, if possible.
I bought our tickets at Atocha, but we were there in mid October, so don't know how crowded it will be in July.

I'd also suggest you choose a later train departure (to Toledo), just for your own peace of mind, instead of rushing and possibly missing your train.

I took Chani's advice & we left one of our carry-on suitcases in a secured locker at the Atocha train station before traveling to Toledo. It was so much easier to roll one, instead of two suitcases!

Here is a map of the Atocha train station. The left luggage, 'Consigna', is #5 ( green) on the ground floor, past the tropical gardens, near Burger King.

BTW, your child may enjoy watching the turtles in the gardens!

Have a wonderful trip trip!

Quangvxn,

I just realized that I forgot to add the link to the Puerta de Atocha map: www.adif.es/en.
Once on this website, you can click on, "Planos de la estación" (right of picture), to download the pdf file of the map/diagram.
The left luggage office, "Consigna" is on the ground floor (Planta 0, on the diagram) #5 (green) near Burger King.

Enjoy!