Train Review – Alicante to Madrid on the Alvia Train , April 10, 2016

I always have loved traveling in trains since I was young and the Europeans probably have the best system when it comes to the routes served, the frequency  per day and the speed of the trains.

Here in Spain it has improved a lot since the first AVE (High Speed Trains) started in 1992 when they had the expo in Seville of that year. Since year 2013 they started having the high velocity trains (AVE Trains) from Alicante to Madrid and back and they have around 10 trips each way per day.

Spain’s trains are being run by the Government controlled Corporation RENFE and there are no private companies yet running any train service. There are varios train types that serve even the same routes from the fastest to a train service that stops in most towns.

Here is the review of my trip from Alicante to Madrid.

THE LOUNGE: For Business Class ticket holders (It is called Preferente in Spain’s RENFE) and one can use the VIP Lounges before they board the trains and normally they are after the security check. The lounge would have spanish only newspapers and magazines, drinks, and some snacks. Also lately, they have been installing WIFI in all of their lounges. The best thing for me here is the peace and quiet and the use of the bathrooms. At least, it is a great place to charge your electronic gadgets.

THE TRAIN: I usually take the AVE trains but this time I took the ALVIA train. This is normally cheaper than the AVE trains but are also a bit slower and no food service in business class.

The ALVIA trains are Spain’s answer to the trains with long journeys. They are relatively fast but not like the AVE trains . The AVE is the high speed train that also traverses this route except that today I am in this ALVIA train going to Gijon, Asturias. This train is passing by Madrid, of which, Is my destination. The ALVIA trains have a configuration of 2 seats on one side and 1 seat on the other side in Preferente Class and two seats on each side in tourist class. – Up to today, these trains still do not have the WIFI on board but there is enough room for luggage  within the train car and the racks above.

 Normally, they have 3 trains cars for Preferente and around 6-7 train cars for the tourist class. In between both classes there is a food car. In Alvia trains they do not serve food in preferente class but they do serve food as part of the service on the AVE trains (except saturdays).

The travel time was around 2 Hours 50 minutes of which if you take the fastest AVE train from Alicante to Madrid it will just take you around 2 Hours.
THE SEAT: 1A – Class: Preferente – This is their business class section and they only have two classes.

I also noticed that the ALVIA trains still do not have outlets for charging the laptops or mobile phones but on the AVE trains they do have the outlets per seat. Also, because the train was not full i immediately changed my seat to the seats with a table so that I can use my laptop and lay down various papers. I also moved to a seat that was facing the same direction as the train.
Train left and arrived exactly as stated.

FACT FILE

Date: April 10, 2016 Sunday

Journey : Alicante to Madrid

Travel Time : 2 Hours 50 minutes

Departure : 14.45 H

Arrival : 17.35H at Madrid’s Atocha Station.

Website : www.renfe.com

Price: Around 79.60 Euros for a Preferente Promo ticket (usually bought in advance) and around 109.40 Euros for a full priced ticket. You can buy all the tickets online and print it out or just have it electronically in your phone like in your iPhone wallet.