RENFE
(tel: (902) 240 202 (24-hour) or (93) 490 1122 (international
enquiries); website: www.renfe.es), runs the Spanish rail network,
which radiates from Madrid to all the major cities. There are
also transversal routes and services running from the French
border along the Mediterranean coast. The ones to avoid are
tranvía, semidirecto and correo trains, all of which
chug along at a leisurely pace. Seat reservations are required
on all intercity trains. Supplements are payable on many faster
trains, even for those holding Interail and Eurail passes
Estació Central-Sants, Plaça del Païses
Catalans, is the city's main station serving national and international
destinations as well as suburban routes. Facilities in the station
building include tourist information, hotel information, left
luggage, a bank offering currency exchange (daily 0800-2200),
a restaurant and cafeteria, shops, a first-aid point, showers,
lockers and secure parking.
Rail
services : There are direct trains to Barcelona from: Paris
(journey time - 11 hours 15 minutes); Montpellier (journey time
- 4 hours 33 minutes); Milan (journey time - 13 hours 13 minutes)
and Zurich (journey time - 13 hours). There are eight daily
departures to Madrid (journey time - 8 hours), including three
sleeper services. A new high-speed rail service linking Barcelona
with Madrid and destinations in France is planned for 2004.
Transport to the city :
Central-Sants is some way from the city centre but is located
at the junction of two metro lines: the green line (3) and the
blue line (5). Facilities at the station include shops, café
and toilets. Estació de França is near the Barceloneta
metro stop. On some train routes an alternative to both these
stations is Passeig de Gràcia station, located close
to Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla.
BARCELONA - Getting there by Train
