Trains and railways in Spain

Because of the mountainous regions of the country, Spain has never really been the best place to have railways and many areas are still inaccessible. However, rail is a wonderful and exciting way to see Spain, especially if travelling with children.

In the south the Al Andalus Express is a mobile hotel that consists of 12 coaches. its route takes in all the Moorish sites of Andalucia. On board are two luxury restaurants, a bar, a lounge and games car. Each of the coaches has a documented history of their being built in the 1920's.

For the train enthusiast, Spain has its fair share of rail museums. The best by far being the one in Madrid. The Museo del Ferrocarril was opened in 1967 and was was the first museum of its kind in Spain. The museum uses four lengths of track to display 31 trains. As well as the main museum there is a small side museum showing uniforms and memorabilia.

We have travelled on the train from Malaga to Madrid and report the following;
The train we travelled on was not the high speed but was faster than the regional service. The cost was 84.80€ each, return. The service was on numbered seats so obviously limited places. The train was also very busy. The train only made three or four stops, including Cordoba.

The train included two bar carriages at which you could obtain drinks and sandwiches. There were toilets at the end of each carriage and a smoking area between carriages. The coaches were comfortable and air-conditioned. A very smooth and enjoyable journey (if not a little long at 4 and a half hours). The station at Madrid was very well organised and easy to use.