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Madrid to Algeciras by train
How to take the rail journey from Madrid to Algeciras (and connect for buses on to Gibralta)
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Routes
From Madrid Atocha/Puerta De Atocha to Algeciras
Journey Summary
5hr 25min - 5hr 58min
Daily
Travel Information
These trains are usually scheduled to depart daily from Madrid at 08:35 and 15:05 and arrive in Algeciras at 14:27 or 20:30; though the 08:35 departure has been temporarily suspended.
Final Destination: Algeciras
These trains also call at: Ronda
The train services on this route used to be branded 'Altaria' reflecting the fact that they travel on a high speed line for part of the journey, They don't match the speeds of the AVE and Avila trains, but they are Europe's fastest trains pulled by a locomotive on the part of the journey between Madrid and Antequera.
2 x trains per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; depending on the time of year
Seat Reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Rail Pass Users:
Rail pass users will need to be pay a reservation fee prior to boarding, but these reservations cannot be booked on the ticket agent's websites.
They are also not available on the Eurail/Interrail reservation service for journeys within Spain.
The only option, other than booking them at a station in Spain, is to pre-reserve seats by calling Renfe phone sales: +34 91 232 03 20.
Pre-reserving a seat is possible up to 24 hours before a train's departure. You will receive a PNR code which you must use to pick up and pay for your reservation at a local station ticket office, making sure to show your Interrail Pass. You must collect your reservation within 72 hours. After this time the pre-reservation will expire.
Please note that a pre-reservation is not the same as a reservation. It only holds a seat for you for 72 hours.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | * | |
| Renfe | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Travelling on to Gibraltar:
Buses on line/route M-120 connect Algeciras station to Gibraltar.
The buses depart 2-3 x times per hour so you won't have to worry about making the connection.
The buses don't depart from the forecourt outside the station, they leave from the San Bernado bus station, which is directly ahead of the station across the street; it is beneath a hotel.
The buses on line M-120 will be heading to 'La Linea Estacion', the bus station in La Linea, which is a 5-10 min walk to the customs point for entrance into Gibraltar.
The bus journey is scheduled to take 45 minutes.
The trains take the high speed line as far as Antequera (where the locomotives are swapped from electric to diesel) and they then switch to conventional tracks for the remainder of the journey on to Algeciras.
The journey becomes particularly scenic once the train leaves the high speed line, there are dramatic views east of Ronda, particularly on the right.
West of Ronda the train travels through tree lined valleys and gorges.
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