Thanks to the completion of the link that plugs Murcia into the high speed rail network, the number of direct trains from Madrid to Murcia have doubled and the journey time has come down by around 40 minutes.
The Spanish rail operator also now operates two services on this route - the full service AVE trains and a daily low-cost, but more basic avlo service.
When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.
from 2hr 35min
Daily
4 x trains per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for: Comparing different train services; Booking international journeys with connections; Travelling between the UK to destinations beyond Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris - and for international travellers who don't reside in western Europe.
Renfe is the national rail operator in Spain and it has recently simplified the range of tickets it sells for express and regional train journeys in Spain.
Which is convenient as there are big savings to be made if you book ahead online.
The image above is by Smiley.toerist and downloaded from Wikimedia Commons
Final Destination: Murcia del Carmen
All trains also call at: Elche /Elx Av and Orihuela-Miguel Hernández
The two daily trains, which depart at 10:00 daily and at 19:15 (not Saturday) now take the direct high speed route, so have a journey time of 2hr 45min to 2hr 55min.
Due to the construction work at Atocha station, these two trains are also currently departing from Chamartin station.
The trains which typically depart daily at around 11:00 and 14:25 take a route which involve reversing direction on departure from Alacant, so have a journey time of around 3hr 25min.
Though these two trains are still departing from Madrid-Atocha.
If the timing of the direct train(s) don't suit then journeys with connections are also available.
The core differences between avlo and AVE services, aside from avlo not conveying 1st/Preferente/Comfort class are:
Luggage allowance on AVE trains = Up to 3 pieces of hand luggage onto the train, provided that the sum of the three does not exceed 25 kg or 290 cm.
The maximum dimensions allowed are 85x55x35 cm.
Luggage allowance on avlo trains = 1 piece of hand luggage (bag, rucksack, etc.) subject to the following size limitations: 36x27x25 cm and 1 suitcase, subject to the following size limitations: 55x35x25 cm.
1 piece of additional, larger-sized luggage, measuring a maximum of 85x60x35 cm (or no more than 180 cm in total) can be be paid for as an added allowance - but the price for doing this ranges from €10 if added when booking, to €30 at the station just prior to boarding.
Another core difference is boarding time, SMTJ suggests being at Madrid Atocha least 20 mins before boarding an AVE train, because having once been towards the back of a long queue for the security check procedures, this scenario is best avoided.
However, for the avlo services, the specific recommendation from renfe is to be at the station a minimum of 30 minutes before departure.
Because the size and weight of the luggage will be measured at the station pre-boarding an avlo train
The trains now travel on high speed line from Madrid all the way to Murcia - though the trains with a journey time of more than three hours divert off the direct route to call in Alacant - where they reverse direction.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - depending on the time of year.
The online booking window can be shorter between late July and early October.
Seat Reservations:
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey.
Rail Pass Users:
Spanish national rail operator RENFE does not sell rail pass reservations online, but reservations for journeys on the AVE trains are now available by using the Eurail reservation service or the InterRail reservation service.
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.
3hr 35min
Daily
1 x train per day
ShowMeTheJourney earns a small commission on Trainline ticket sales. It can be a particularly good option for comparing high speed train operators in Spain, as it sells tickets for the AVE, iryo, Ouigo, avlo and Euromed trains.
Renfe is the national rail operator in Spain and it has recently simplified the range of tickets it sells for express and regional train journeys in Spain.
Which is convenient as there are big savings to be made if you book ahead online.
Final Destination: Murcia del Carmen
All trains also call at: Elche /Elx Av and Orihuela-Miguel Hernández
This service is scheduled to depart Madrid-Chamartin daily at 06:15.
Hence it arrives in Murcia close to three hours before the first AVE train of the day.
The core differences between avlo and AVE services, aside from avlo not conveying 1st/Preferente/Comfort class are:
Luggage allowance on AVE trains = Up to 3 pieces of hand luggage onto the train, provided that the sum of the three does not exceed 25 kg or 290 cm.
The maximum dimensions allowed are 85x55x35 cm.
Luggage allowance on avlo trains = 1 piece of hand luggage (bag, rucksack, etc.) subject to the following size limitations: 36x27x25 cm and 1 suitcase, subject to the following size limitations: 55x35x25 cm.
1 piece of additional, larger-sized luggage, measuring a maximum of 85x60x35 cm (or no more than 180 cm in total) can be be paid for as an added allowance - but the price for doing this ranges from €10 if added when booking, to €30 at the station just prior to boarding.
Another core difference is boarding time.
SMTJ suggests being at the station, at least 20 mins before boarding an AVE train, because having once been towards the back of a long queue for the security check procedures, this scenario is best avoided.
However, for the avlo services, the specific recommendation from renfe is to be at the station a minimum of 30 minutes before departure.
Because the size and weight of the luggage will be measured at the station pre-boarding an avlo train.
These trains take the high speed line all the way from Madrid to Murcia, though they divert off the direct route to call in Alacant - where they reverse direction.
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings usually open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date - depending on the time of year.
The online booking window can be shorter between late July and early October.
When looking up journeys (not travelling) between late July and early October, it's likely you won't be able to book for journeys beyond the second Sunday in December.
Both the Renfe (Spanish national railways) online booking service and the ticketing services Trainline and Trenes sell tickets for journeys by the avlo and AVE trains.
Trainline and Trenes also sells tickets for the alternative iryo services.
Seats will automatically be assigned when booking tickets for this journey by avlo services.
Difference in core ticketing terms between AVE and avlo services.
Refunds
Exchanges
Child tickets:
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