AVE type S102 & S112

AVE is the brand name for Spanish Railways' high-speed trains, of which there are various types.  It stands for Alta Velocidad Española (Spanish High-Speed) and it's also the Spanish for bird.  These luxurious type S102 (original batch) & S112 (later batch) AVEs are built by the Talgo company and used on the direct AVE trains between Barcelona and Granada, Cordoba, Seville & Malaga.  You may also find them (along with type S100 & S103 AVEs) between Madrid and Malaga.  Like the classic locomotive-hauled Talgo trains, these AVEs have relatively short compact coaches, each articulated to the next with just one axle per coach.  You can check train times & buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com.

AVE S102 & 112.  Known to staff as pato, Spanish for duck.  There are no prizes for guessing why...		AVE Premium Comfort class.  Reclining leather seats.  See larger photo.

The cafe-bar serving drinks & snacks.  See larger photo.		All aboard!  An S112 AVE at Madrid Atocha.

AVE Standard class.  Comfortable seats, 2 abreast each side of the aisle, most unidirectional but some tables for 4.  Larger photo.		AVE Comfort class.  Reclining seats, power sockets for laptops & mobiles, mainly unidirectional but some tables for two and tables for four.  Larger photo.

AVE S102 at Madrid Atocha about to leave with a service to Malaga.  The photo above left was taken as you descend the travelator from the departures area to the platform for boarding.  In the photo above right you can see how short the carriages are, compared to normal railway cars.  There is just one axle (2 wheels) under each articulation.

Travel tips

• Should you go Standard or Comfort class?

  The classes on AVE are explained on the Train travel in Spain page.  Standard is absolutely fine for most travellers.  Seats are arranged 2+2 across the car width.  Comfort class gives you more leg & elbow room with seats arranged 2+1 across the car width, as you can see from the photos above, and with a Premium fare you may get food & wine served at your seat on some trains.

• Boarding your train

  At Spanish stations including Madrid Atocha & Barcelona Sants there is a simple and quick baggage X-ray check before entering the departures area and your ticket may be checked before boarding, it only takes minutes, but don't turn up with seconds to spare.  How to board an AVE train at Madrid Atocha.  Boarding an AVE at Barcelona Sants.

• Luggage

  Like any European train, you take your luggage in with you and stick it on any suitable rack near your seat.  Nobody weighs it or measures it, so no worries.

• Seat reservation

  Seat reservation is compulsory on all Spanish high-speed trains and tickets come with a reserved seat automatically included.

  See seat map of an AVE S112.

• Infants need a ticket

  Infants under 4 travel for free if they don't need their own seat, but unlike most other European trains, you can't just bring them along without a ticket.  On Spanish high-speed trains they need a zero-fare ticket showing their name.  You'll get this if you enter them as a passenger with their actual age when you buy tickets at www.raileurope.com or www.renfe.com.

• Food & drink

  The cafe-bar car serves snacks, hot dishes, coffee. soft drinks, beer & wine.  You are of course free to bring your own food and drink along to eat & drink in your seat, even a beer or bottle of wine if you like.

• WiFi & power outlets

  There are power outlets at all seats of the usual European 2-pin type.  You should now find free WiFi available on the Barcelona-Seville/Granada/Malaga route, the network name is PlayRenfe.

• Barcelona Sants & Sala Club first class lounge

  See the Barcelona Sants station guide which explains the layout of the station and has information about the Sala Club 1st class lounge which you can use before your journey if you buy the Premium fare.

An AVE-S112 about to leave Barcelona Sants with the 15:50 direct AVE to Cordoba, Seville & Malaga.  These trains use the Barcelona-Madrid high-speed line to a point just south of the capital where they use a link-line to join the Madrid-Cordoba-Seville/Malaga high-speed line to the south.

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