Interrail & Eurail Passholders: Reserving Seats on Spanish Trains Just Got Simpler!
Interrail and Eurail pass holders celebrate, since they can now bypass the lines and book their seats on long- and medium-haul RENFE trains via the internet.
Rail Europe
A European train booking platform has extended its services to encompass trains run by Spain’s national railroad company, thereby removing a significant obstacle that has frustrated rail pass holders for many years.
The inclusion of RENFE’s passholder rates on our platform is a significant development for travelers looking to easily discover Spain,” states Jürgen Witte, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Rail Europe. “This improvement allows Interrail and Eurail Global Pass owners to effortlessly traverse their top-notch railway network.
Using the new service, pass holders can quickly determine whether they need to reserve seats for their trip and find out the related expenses.
From there, they can create their own
reservation
Online, eliminating the necessity for time-draining in-person reservations where issues with Spanish language proficiency can arise.
What’s the issue with reserving RENFE seats using a rail pass?
While many
Interrail
And while Eurail trains don’t necessitate seat reservations, the Spanish high-speed trains—the Alta Velocidad Española (AVE)—do require them.
Although Interrail purports to allow bookings on some AVE trains via its self-service system, users report extensive issues in getting the platform to work. Some trains available on Interrail/Eurail are not bookable via the self-service system at all.
Earlier, the sole possibility for securing a seat reservation without purchasing a ticket through RENFE was unavailable.
high-speed train
The intention was to contact the company. Afterward, the traveler needed to visit a RENFE station to collect and pay for the reservation within 72 hours of making the booking, which frequently proved inconvenient.
“In Spain, nearly all trains, excluding solely suburban services, necessitate a reservation, and RENFE’s official site does not provide options for passholders,” clarifies railway travel specialist Mark Smith, the person behind the website.
The Gentleman inSeat 61
.
Moreover, Spanish trains have been known to depart with full bookings, hence it’s best to make reservations in advance. This posed a significant problem when utilizing an Interrail or Eurail pass.
Spain
.”
Smith cautions that during peak travel times, specifically on Fridays and Saturdays in the summertime, lines can become extremely lengthy. At key stations in Madrid and Barcelona, travelers might have to wait up to one or two hours for service.
The intricacy has led to bewilderment and exasperation for many travelers. In a post on the Eurail forum, someone commented, “I won’t go out of my way to head to Spain. Instead, I’ll scrap the part of the trip involving Spain and remain in France.”
How to make seat reservations through RENFE
To secure a spot on a RENFE high-speed AVE train, just go to the
Rail Europe website
.
Below the journey planner, click ‘add rail pass’ and choose the type and class of your pass. Afterward, proceed with your journey search; however, instead of regular ticket prices, you will view the reservation fees applicable for passholders.
Smith notes that the
Rail Europe
The system automatically suggests a secondary class seating option in the search results. Users with premier tickets must individually adjust the fare filter if they wish to book a first-class seat.
Other alternatives for securing seats on RENFE with a pass involve utilizing Dutch travel agency HappyRail. This option has been effective in reserving spots on AVE services; however, they do charge a 3.5 percent service fee.
Interrail
Eurail reservation services became accessible starting in 2023; however, their effectiveness has been inconsistent. According to Smith, these reservations can be made for either first or second-class travel, though premium service remains unavailable. The ‘premium’ option grants Passholders entry into Sala Club lounges along with meals accompanied by wine on AVE and Euromed train journeys.
Smith has frequently suggested using Rail Europe as a reservation platform for those with Interrail and Eurail passes because it offers a wider selection of seats, additional advantages for holders of first-class tickets, and does not charge any booking fees.
This represents significant progress,” states Smith, “so if you can’t secure your reservation with one system, consider using the alternative.
Where can one journey using RENFE?
RENFE manages an extensive route network throughout Spain, featuring both its high-speed AVE services and long-distance Larga Distancia trains. As shown on the map below, the purple lines represent AVE routes, while the grey lines indicate the slower long-distance services.
long-distance routes
.
In addition to traveling within Spain, RENFE also links to various international locations. These include Oporto in Portugal and multiple destinations elsewhere.
France
.
Starting from April 23rd, RENFE will introduce a new direct train service connecting Seville and Barcelona, eliminating the need for a layover in Madrid and simplifying travel between these two major destinations.
During its journey, it makes stops in Córdoba, Puertollano, Ciudad Real, Madrid, Zaragoza, Lleida, and Tarragona, and
Girona
, making them equally appealing places to visit. The high-speed service cuts down the journey time to roughly six hours, thereby offering a far more convenient way to travel between southern and northeastern regions of Spain.
