Getting to Seville: train

How to get to Seville? Train is definitely the best option, especially of you’re traveling from another Spanish city.

Thanks to its 16,000 km (10,000 mi) of railway infrastructure and more than 1,550 stations, catching a train is the easiest and most comfortable way to travel around Spain.

Renfe, a public company, is in charge of managing most the passenger train routes throughout Spain. Back in the day, it used to have the monopoly on high-speed distances but nowadays you can use other railway operators’ trains.

If you want to plan your train trips around Spain, have a look at a complete tutorial about train travel in Spain. There you can read all the information you need to organize your train journeys throughout the country.

Additionally, you can also read more information about getting around Seville by train.

 

Seville train lines

There are different types of trains linking Seville to other cities and towns in Spain.

  • Larga Distancia. High-speed trains, very comfortable and extremely reliable.
  • Media Distancia. Traditional trains with multiple stops along the way.
  • Cercanías. It’s the city’s commuter rail network and covers local trains in and around the city.

 

Long distance routes (Larga distancia)

Seville has several long distance routes, most of them using high speed trains. These reach more than 310 km/h (193 mi/h) allowing you to get to your destination very fast.

Despite there are other railway operators (Renfe’s low-cost Avlo, OUIGO and iryo) covering several routes in Spain, none of them include Seville for the time being.

Currently Renfe has 3 AVE routes from Seville:

  • Seville – Madrid covering the 525 km (326 mi) in approximately 2h30. It has 20 daily trains departing from 6:00 to 21:00 every hour or so. The trains can also stop at Córdoba, Puertollano and Ciudad Real but not all trains stop at every station. In fact, there’s even a nonstop train from Seville to Madrid and vice versa.
  • Seville – Barcelona where you travel 1,046 km (650 mi) in 5h30 more or less. There is one train departing in the morning and another one in the afternoon. The early one stops at Córdoba, Zaragoza, Lérida and Tarragona. The latter one stops at Córdoba, Puertollano, Ciudad Real, Zaragoza, Lérida and Tarragona. Please note that these trains don’t stop in Madrid.
  • Seville – Valencia with a 659 km (410 mi) distance is linked in around 3h50. There is only one train departing in the afternoon. It stops at Córdoba, Puertollano, Ciudad Real and Cuenca. Please note that this train doesn’t stop in Madrid.

 

Moderate speed trains (Media distancia)

Seville has train connections with the main Andalusian cities (Córdoba, Málaga, Huelva, Cádiz, Jáen, Granada and Almería) as well as many other stops along these routes.

All these routes are operated by Renfe exclusively. Moderate Speed trains offer very convenient fares and the trains are very reliable although some routes can be quite slow.

Alternatively, you can catch a regional bus. Prices are also very cheap for what you get: the vehicles are generally very comfortable and modern (most companies offer free Wi-Fi on board), and they are rarely late (traffic permits).

 

Seville Cercanías trains (commuter rail network)

The Cercanías or commuter service is operated by Renfe exclusively. This network has 5 railway lines that run all over the Seville region (provincia).

 

How to get your Seville train tickets

Fortunately, buying any Seville train ticket is extremely easy. It only depends on the type of train you plan to catch.

 

Long distance and moderate speed trains

As I already mentioned, Long Distance train fares vary depending on the date and time you plan to travel. So the best way to find cheap train tickets for all train journeys by taking advantage of advance booking.

As for Moderate Speed trains, the fares don’t vary often and are fairly cheap.

And keep in mind that Renfe charges you an extra fee if you purchase your tickets at any train station ticket office.

Save time and money getting your Long Distance or Moderate Speed train tickets online!

 

Seville train network: Cercanías

Cercanías train tickets can be bought from machines at the train station and if available, ticket windows where Renfe staff can help you out. It’s easier to use the machines, but you can always go to a ticket window if you speak a bit of Spanish and need extra help.

You can’t use any bus or subway ticket on the train network, so you must purchase your Cercanías train tickets before boarding any commuter train.

 

The Renfe Spain Pass

If you want to explore the regions of Spain using the local train service, you might want to consider a Renfe Spain Pass. The Pass lets you hop on and hop off local trains at your convenience. These local trains arrive and depart frequently and are nicely comfortable.

A Renfe Spain Pass gives you unlimited travel throughout Spain. Choose from 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 journeys of train travel from Seville — that can be used consecutively or separately.

 

Seville train stations

The city has two main stations:

  • Santa Justa. Located to the north-east of the city center, it’s the largest railway station. It’s the primary station of most of the AVE and Alvia routes, and serves the most important cities in Andalucía (Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Málaga, Huelva, Jaén, Almería), as well as Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, and all Cercanías lines.
  • San Bernardo. Located to the south-east of the city center, it’s the second major station. It hosts the railway routes connecting Seville and Cádiz, Málaga and Almería, and some Cercanías lines.