Hey everyone, I am flying into Madrid (landing at 9am) and plan to go straight to Seville via the Atocha train station. Is it feasible to buy my ticket on the day of or do they often sell out? It's hard to know if there will be flight delays. In case I decide to buy in advance, would it make sense to get the 11:53am AVE train or 12:55 iryo train?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Since you are at the airport, why not fly to Seville? Lot less hassle and your risk is the same.
Posted by
Central Indiana
272 posts
They do sell out depending on the date. Holidays, Semana Santa, the Féria create a lot of demand for tickets. What date are you arriving?
I usually give myself 4 hours just to be safe and I book the premium class ticket to have lounge access at Atocha and a nice on board meal. Note that your AVE ticket includes a transfer from the airport to Atocha on the Cercanias train.
Were it me, I’d get the later ticket and then try change to the earlier train if I got to the station early and there was space on the train. Otherwise, just relax in the lounge. There are snacks and drinks and is super quiet. Certainly there are other valid options. It’s good to look at the various fare classes before you book.
https://www.renfe.com/es/en/travel/prepare-your-trip/billetes-ave-y-largadistancia/all-tickets
Posted by
OP
136 posts
Thanks for the replies - I didn't realize you could switch times if you arrived earlier (I was under the impression that tickets were non-refundable and non-switchable) Maybe I got my wires crossed and was thinking of something else I researched - my brain is a bit scrambled trying to figure everything out haha
I am landing on Thursday May 2nd. No holiday's that I'm aware of
Also reason I'm not flying straight to Seville was because the prices were a LOT more with much longer layovers. Overall didn't make sense for us
Posted by
Central Indiana
272 posts
I just noticed one of your options was an Iryo train. I haven’t traveled with them but here are there fare types. I don’t know if they have a lounge at Atocha.
Posted by
Central Indiana
272 posts
I need to amend my answer as I didn’t notice your train options were with two different companies. Looking at the options, I might go with the 11:53 train on Renfe and should that fail, their 2:00 train will be an option. Inyo has fewer trains each day so to me it’s a less attractive option.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2014 posts
Buy a Renfe “PUENTE AVE” supplement for €5 on a Renfe “ Elige” or an “Elige Confort” ticket. The Elige ticket is only € 8 more than the Basico ticket which are the non-refundable no exchange tickets.
The Puente Ave supplement allows you to change your train ticket (at no additional cost) to a train departing either earlier or later than the one you are holding a ticket for during THE SAME DAY. You do not have to pay for any price difference between the ticket you already have and the new ticket. Any ticket exchange must be done at least 30 minutes before the train’s departure time and it’s subject to space being available. You’ll know after your plane touches down and you get through Passport control at the airport whether you will want to change trains.
The “Aeropuerto T4” Train 🚂 station is at the airport’s Terminal 4. It has CERCANIAS commuter trains departing for Madrid Atocha train station. The Cercanias commuter trains only make 3 stops or so and reach Madrid Atocha in 33 minutes. Tickets are €3.40 if you have any problem obtaining the free Cercanias ticket with the “Cercanias Combinado” 5-digit code printed on your Renfe AVE train ticket. There are shuttle buses outside all airport terminals that will take you to Terminal 4. The Cercanias train station is one floor underneath Terminal 4. Look for the sign that says “Aeropuerto T4.”
IRYO does have a high-speed Frecciarosa train on May 2 departing Madrid Atocha for Sevilla Santa Justa station at 12::55pm which makes a nonrefundable ticket a solid bet.
Got all that?!
Details are at www.Renfe.com
www.IRYO.eu/en
Posted by
OP
136 posts
Oh my gosh that was incredibly helpful thank you!!!
Posted by
Central Indiana
272 posts
Great info! Thank you!
Posted by
new york
55 posts
I recently flew into MAD from the US and took a taxi to Atocha (flat fare 33 euro payable with credit card) I had purchased an IRYO ticket a couple of months before.
. There is no IRYO lounge at Atocha, it is in the OnlyYou Hotel across the street and opens at 9am (too late for me to use). I ended up walking to the IRYO office inside Atocha and changing my ticket for no charge to an earlier train to Cordoba. It worked out really well.....I believe the free time change is only available for the higher classes of the Inyo but anyone can change for a small supplement.