We've purchased our RENFE train tickets prior to going to Spain, so now I have this little stack of print-outs.
Who do I give them to in the train station, or what do I do with them?
Also, is it necessary to arrive a half-hour ahead of time for all trains in Spain, even in small town stations?
Thanks!
In most cases, you simply board the train, looking for the car number and seat number that apply on most tickets. The conductor will come through later to check, once the train is underway. For AVE trains at least at major stations, you now do show your ticket and have your baggage scanned at the entrance to the specific track for your train. This does not necessarily take half an hour, but could cause a bottleneck. See also http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/getting-on-the-right-train.
My husband just did this a few weeks ago and at every station, no matter how small, they will check your ticket in the station before you board and will scan your luggage. And we only had one time when a conductor checked it on the train and I think that's because we were going to have to de-board and take a bus on one leg of the trip.
It's great that you bought the tickets ahead. So much easier than at the station and it keeps you on schedule.
Thanks for the quick replies - very helpful! RON
Train security in Spain is rigorous and quite different from elsewhere in Europe. Before we realized the system we almost missed a train out of Granada because we expected to just walk to the platform and board when it arrived and instead we had to line up half an hour ahead and go through security. In Madrid it was obvious because security was like at an airport, but in Granada (which we did earlier) it was done by agents who just lined everyone up-- no special equipment, so it was easy to not realize you needed to be in line if you didn't understand the announcements.
