MADRID – The state budget was finally adopted in Spain after many problems and adjustments, which means that many things can change. One of these things is free or discounted trains, which in principle apply from September 1st to December 31st 2022. This is now extended until unknown date in 2023.
The costs for the extension of free or discounted train journeys in 2023 are estimated at 700 million euros. From 1 September to 31 December 2022, residents of Spain but also visitors such as tourists can travel on certain trains for free or with a 50% discount. These are always holders of multi-journey tickets with whom at least 16 journeys must be made.
To take advantage of the 100% and 50% discounts on cercanías, rodalies and media distancia trains (Avant), you must go to THIS website (in Spanish) or use the Renfe smartphone app (in Spanish). If you are in Spain you can also go to a train station. It is necessary to buy a multi-journey ticket (abono) and pay a deposit (depósito / fianza) of 10 euros for cercanías and rodalies trains and 20 euros for media distancia trains (Avant). You will receive this “girlfriend” from Renfe after making 16 train journeys. If you don’t get the 16 rides, you won’t even get the deposit.
The 100% discount applies to the so-called ‘abonos de cercanías, rodalies’, i.e. multi-journey tickets or passes for short-distance trains. This discount therefore does not apply to long-distance journeys and high-speed trains or AVE / AVLO, nor to single or individual train tickets such as a one-way or return ticket to Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia.
The discount applies to cercanías, rodalies and media distancia (Avant) trains operated by the Spanish railway company Renfe (see the bottom of the article for an explanation of the trains). In fact, from June there is a 50% discount, but from 1 September to 31 December 2022 it will be 100% for holders of season tickets or multi-journey tickets (abonos).
The 50% discount applies to media distancia or Avant (Media Distancia Alta Velocidad) trains for journeys of less than 300 kilometers. It is therefore not a question of the high-speed trains AVE / AVLO for which no reduction is applied.
This discount of 100% or 50% does not therefore apply to high-speed and long-distance trains AVE / AVLO, but not even to regional rail links which fall under the responsibility of the autonomous regions. There is a 30% discount that can be extended by regional authorities, with the government proposing to increase it to 60%. Discounts therefore do not apply to the subway, tram or bus or to school transport and certainly not to tourist transport.
Types of trains in Spain
There are many types of trains in Spain of the Spanish railway company Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (Renfe) including AVE (high speed trains), AVLO (cheap high speed trains), large distancia (long distance trains), medium distancia (medium-distance trains), cercanías (regional or short-distance trains) and Catalan Rodalies (regional or short-distance Catalan trains).
