Money belt ok for Madrid Atocha station security?

As a non-EU foreigner the only legally acceptable ID is a passport. You do legally have to carry ID (your passport) anyway in most European countries.

Both Spain and Switzerland are in the Schengen Area, so there is no passport control on flights between these two countries.
Switzerland is not in the EU, so there is technically customs; but this will involve walking through the green channel after you land and only a very small percentage being subject to random checks.

It's not as bad as it sounds -- your biggest worry in the Atocha station will be getting splashed when there's an avalanche of frogs falling off one of the islands in the central pond.

We just travelled today. You don't need passports or at least we weren't asked for them at security or buying tickets. As for it being like airline security-it's not. I had things in my pockets and our bags went quickly through. Anyway my response as anyone's is just anecdotal and it might be different for you, so just be prepared and give yourself some extra time just in case.

they run the bags through scanners but the main nod to security is that they only admit passengers to the platform unlike in France and Italy where thieves merely walk on trains as if they were passengers, walk down the aisle, snag a purse here or there and grab a bag and exit before the train leave the station. In Spain only passengers are admitted to the platform even in small stations and thus the risk of theft on trains is reduced.

Pretty much all the train stations in Spain run your bags (anything you are carrying) through a scanner and check your ticket before you can access the platform. No body scanners or metal detectors. Just allow an extra few minutes. The trains do NOT wait for passengers.

I made several train journeys in February, no ID checks.

Because of the Atocha bombings a few years ago, RENFE scans all bags for AVE trains prior to boarding. It is not like airport security and only takes a few seconds. There can be a line but even that goes very quickly. They key is that AVE trains close their doors a few minutes PRIOR to departure time. So you cannot be racing up at the last minute to board. Plan to arrive 15 minutes ahead, go through security, board and relax.

If they do ask for ID (I don't recall being asked to board a train), a drivers license will likely work. They would just want to be sure you and the ticket belong together.

Thank you to all for the really helpful responses.

As far as I can tell, the security is for the fast trains. Arrive a little early, they will scan your bags - although it's much less formal than an airport. They won't let you onto the platform too early so 15-20 minutes early is plenty.

As stated platforms open up about 30 minutes prior to departure. Had to show ID. We used our passport since we always carry the passport 24/7. Primarily interested in detecting bombs in hand luggage. A gun or knife is not helpful if you want to hijack a train and they is no interest in liquids. We did go through a metal detector but it seems to be set pretty low. A metal watch and belt buckle didn't set it off. It is min and quick.

So it seems ID is sometimes asked for and I'll have to have the passports readily available. Does anybody know why the procedures vary? Could it be ID is required for tickets purchased on-line and printed at home vs tickets bought at the station? We bought ours on-line.

^^ No, most likely it is different at different stations, or based on security alerts and such. Be prepared to show some form of ID on the off chance you need it, but if you need to step aside for a moment to dig them out, it won't be an issue.

money belt...

we made our first trip to Spain earlier this year and i bought one for the trip after seeing Rick's videos in which he strongly advised it's use in Spain

after a few days i stopped using it. i felt ridiculous pulling that thing out of my pants every time i needed cash. i never even once felt the need to have one and we visited five Spanish cities

money belt for sale...hell, you can have mine for free if it makes you feel better

I loved Spain and can't wait to go back!

I wore my seat belt for 5 days. Does that mean it's no longer necessary? If I leave my front door unlocked for 5 days, will that mean I don't have to lock it any more?

David - I'm glad you didn't have any problems. I don't know why you had to keep pulling the money belt out, though. It's meant for keeping valuables - extra cash, credit cards, and passport. It isn't meant to be a "safer" wallet.

Seat belts? Locked doors? Bit of a stretch there
Anyway, It's paranoia to me where common sense will suffice. I stopped carrying a wallet decades ago

Agree with Chani. Waist style money belts are intended to be used for storing items, not as a wallet to access regularly. Which is why the OP asked her question; it won't be easy to retrieve an ID if it is in a waist money belt.

Every travel advisor I know of recommends some way to keep you valuables safe while traveling abroad. Many Spanish cities are at the top of the list for pick-pockets. Pick-pockets work on deception and distraction, not violence or grab-and-run. They can pick a wallet/moneyclip from any pocket or regular purse easily and you'll never know it.

There are many, many other ways to keep things safe other than a waist money belt. Many of us regulars here don't like them for various reasons (count me as one). But almost every one of us uses some other secure system. And just about every one of us can tell you stories of pick-pockets successfully doing their thing to people we know. High risk is not the same as inevitability, as Chani was pointing out.

My husband and I were just at Atocha a few weeks ago and you don't need to worry or change anything because of security. They do scan the bags but not your body. And they do NOT check IDs. We had e-tickets ordered off of the Petrabax website (recommended by Rick Steves AND me) and they have a barcode that gets scanned but that's it.

It is wise for your husband to have a money belt and to keep passports in there and with you at all times, but you sure don't need to show them to get on the train.

In regard to the Madrid Airport, yes, of course, you will need to show passports there.

In regard to thieves, we did not experience the problems we had anticipated and prepared for by my husband and I each wearing money belts. (FYI, we do that in every foreign country.) Years ago I got robbed in Paris and lost everything so, after that, we started wearing belts.

We didn't experience any threatening situations per se, but I would caution you to not accept help from strangers. We did have a group of 3 young men come up to us at the train station and offer to help us with the ticket machine. We have had similar situations in other countries and it is generally a scam; they are hoping to get your card or at least the number. So I would just caution you that if some "Good Samaritan" appears out of the blue, to just thank them politely but tell them you're fine. (And get whatever help you need from a ticket teller rather than machine. That's what we did.)

Madrid is wonderful; the trains are wonderful; have fun.