Train ticket prices frozen for another year

The New Year also means the start of a new tax year in Spain, so prices of public services are normally adjusted in time for January 1.

State-run rail board RENFE has confirmed that the cost of travelling on outer suburban metro lines, or Cercanías, as well as the price of multi-trip tickets on Avant and conventional medium-distance trains will remain the same next year, in a bid to encourage frequent use.

Around eight in 10 train journeys in Spain are on Cercanías lines.

Avant train ticket options will include a 10-journey pass, which must be used within 45 days of purchase, from January 1 and its price will be 35% lower than buying 10 separate tickets.

Otherwise, Avant and medium-distance lines will rise in price.

Sizeable discounts on multi-journey Avant tickets will be available on the Madrid-Cuenca and Madrid-Salamanca routes, of between 50.2% and 68.8%.

The price freeze on Cercanías, the multi-journey passes and the 3.5% and 7% cost increases on medium-distance and Avant trains only apply to rail services operated by the State, through RENFE, meaning those run by Rodalies de Catalunya, which include the Barcelona Cercanías and the Catalunya regional lines, are not affected as they are owned and managed by the regional government, which sets their prices.