The AVE high speed train links Cordoba with Sevilla (just a 45 minute ride) and Madrid (2 hour trip). The new station opened in 1994 and is located in the northwest of the city. These trains are contemporary, clean, and sport a modern design which makes it so inviting to ride in. RENFE is Spain s state-owned national railway operator. RENFE is an acronym for Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Espa (National Network of Spanish Railways). The said network controls over 15,000 kilometers of Spanish railways.
There are four different services:
Alta Velocidad (High Speed)
These include the impressive AVE which runs on a special line from Madrid to Cordoba and Seville in under 3 hours.
Talgo 200
The Talgo 200 train runs from:
Madrid to Malaga (4.5 hours)
Madrid to Cadiz (5 hrs) and Huelva (4.5 hours)
Madrid to Algeciras (6 hours)
Grandes Lineas (long distance)
Services from Madrid and Barcelona direct to the following major cities in Andalucia:
There is also a service from Cadiz to Almeria via Jerez, Sevilla Cordoba and Linares / Baeza.
Cercanias (Local)
These stopping trains operate on the following routes:
Malaga to Fuengirola ( Calling at Malaga airport)
Malaga to Alora
Seville to Cazalla-Constantina
Seville to Loria del Rio
Seville to Utrera
Cadiz to Jerez de la Frontera
Booking and Tickets
Booking is advisable on the " Alta Velocidad " and " Grandes lineas " if traveling on weekends and bank holidays. Booking can be made at main stations and RENFE agents which include many travel agents.
Tickets are reasonably priced although rates certainly vary depending on the class ( Club, Preferente, Turista ) of service and the peak hour times ( Punta, Plano, Valle ).
Andalucia Express
The Al Andaluz Express is a special train which offers high quality service in refurbished coaches built in the early part of the 20 th Century. The excursions in the summer travel to some of the popular cities of Andalucia .
