RENFE
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Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF (Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias).
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[edit] History
- Further information: History of rail transport in Spain
The Railway Sector Act of 2003 separated the management, maintenance and construction of rail infrastructure from train operation. The first activity is now the responsibility of a new public company, Administrador de Infrestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF), while Renfe (full name: Renfe Operadora) owns the rolling-stock and remains responsible for the planning, marketing and operation of passenger and freight services (though no longer with a legal monopoly).
Renfe Operadora inherited the management model of the business units of the old RENFE, which made Renfe Operadora responsible for the operation of the following passenger and freight services. In January 2006, Renfe Operadora restructured the main business units into four:
- Dirección General de Servicios Públicos de Cercanías y Media Distancia: responsible for commuter services (Cercanías), medium-distance high-speed rail AVE services and medium-range regional services (Regionales and Media Distancia). However, control of some Cercanías services are transferred to Spain's Autonomous communities.
- Dirección General de Servicios de Larga Distancia: responsible for long-distance intercity and high-speed rail services (except medium-distance AVE services and Media Distancia, which is managed by the above business unit.
- Dirección General de Servicios de Mercancías y Logística: responsible for freight services.
- Dirección General de Fabricación y Mantenimiento: responsible for rolling stock maintenance and manufacture (also known as Integria)
The name is derived from that of the former Spanish National Railway Network, RENFE (Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles) which had been created on 24 January 1941 when Spain's railways were nationalized. As per EU Directive 91/440, RENFE was divided into Renfe Operadora (operations) and ADIF (infrastructure) on 1 January 2005. At the same time, the existing RENFE two arrows logo from 1971 has been replaced by a dark purple lower-case wordmark designed by Interbrand, and also replaces some of the separate logos used by the other sectors, although the old RENFE logo remains in use in some stations in Spain and on maps to indicate a RENFE station.
[edit] Operations
The company operates some 15,000 km of railways, most of which are constructed to the broad "Iberian" gauge of 1668 mm, the same as that used in Portugal but wider than the gauge of 1435 mm which is standard in France and most of western and central Europe. The newer high-speed (AVE} network, however, has been built to the international standard gauge of 1435 mm gauge in anticipation of its eventual connection to the rest of the European railway system. For this reason, the 1435-mm gauge is generally termed "European gauge" in Spain.
The Spanish high-speed system is called AVE. (Alta Velocidad Española, Spanish High Speed). The logo incorporates a feature which resembles a bird (ave in Spanish). The high-speed lines are built to the standard European gauge (1435 mm). Speed on the Seville line is 300 km/h. The line to Lleida is slower at present, though there are plans for eventual operation at 350 km/h on this route.
Construction of the high-speed rail line between Madrid and Seville began in 1988 and operation commenced in 1991. The second high-speed rail line, from Madrid to Barcelona, was completed in 2007 with the inaugural service commencing at 6 am February 20, 2008. The greater part of the line, from Madrid to Lleida, was put in service on October 11, 2003, with connection to Huesca from Zaragoza. The last high-speed line opened is Madrid - Toledo, in November 2005, followed by the spur from Córdoba to Málaga as far as Antequera in 2007. Another high-speed route from Madrid to Valladolid was opened in 2007, and other lines to Valencia and Lisbon are being designed. The route Madrid-Galicia is under construction between the major Galician cities.
Other lines operated by Renfe include Alaris, a moderate-speed line between Madrid and Valencia.
In addition to intercity transport, Renfe operates commuter train systems, known as Cercanías (or the equivalent local name), in eleven metropolitan areas, including Madrid and Barcelona. The former was targeted in the March 11, 2004 Madrid train bombings. While the latter and some of the regional trains going to Barcelona have been without service since 20th October 2007. In some cities Renfe shares the market with other commuter railway operators.
[edit] Ticketing procedures
The Grandes Líneas (inter-city) division of Renfe operates a rather peculiar ticketing system when compared to industry norms. Any reservation by telephone or internet is allocated a "localizador" or booking reference. This is a code that simply acts as a reference to your booking and does not substitute a normal paper ticket. The current practice is that you will be allowed to board an inter-city train with your "localizador", however, if you miss your train, your entire booking is invalidated including your return ticket. Numerous unsuspecting passengers have had the unpleasant experience of being forced to purchase an additional ticket (often only expensive 1st class remains available) for the return journey, having missed their outbound train.[1] Many passengers reasonably assume that the booking reference is confirmation of your seat, however, this appears not to be the case.
Renfe will turn away passengers who do not have sufficient funds to purchase a new (usually 1st class) ticket for their return journey, despite having paid in full and arrived at the station on time for their return trip. This practice is allegedly illegal because contract law asserts that the customer (passenger) enters into an agreement with the company (Renfe) to fulfil the entire service offered once they have made their purchase (whether it be by internet or over the phone). Passengers, in particular those operating on a tight budget (students, etc), should be aware of this practice and ensure that they arrive at the station with enough time to have their paper tickets issued.
[edit] Passenger rolling stock
Renfe Operadora counts on the following rolling stock and commercial products inside of its two divisions that contain services of travellers:
[edit] D.G.S.P. Cercanías y Media Distancia
Cercanías:
- RENFE Class 440 EMU
- RENFE Class 442 EMU
- RENFE Class 446 EMU
- RENFE Class 447 EMU
- RENFE Class 450 EMU
- RENFE Class 451 EMU
- Civia (RENFE Class 462, 463, 464 and 465) EMU
- RENFE Class 592 DMU
Media Distancia:
- RENFE Class 432 EMU
- RENFE Class 440 EMU
- RENFE Class 470 EMU
- RENFE Class 444 EMU
- RENFE Class 448 EMU
- RENFE Class 592 DMU
- RENFE Class 593 DMU
- RENFE Class 594 DMU
- RENFE Class 596 DMU
- RENFE Class 598 DMU
- RENFE Class 104 EMU
- RENFE Class 130 EMU
[edit] D.G.S.P. Larga Distancia
| Service | Rolling stock | Route(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional RENFE traditional services, with conventional rolling stock | ||
| Diurno | Locomotive + Passenger cars | Basque Country <> Galicia / Salamanca |
| Estrella | Locomotive + sleeper cars | Atlántico Costa Brava Galicia Pío Baroja Picasso Sudexpress/Surex |
| With the disappearance of the steam and the generalization of electric trains and diesel, some have improved their rolling stock whilst others originally conserve the original rolling stock for the service. | ||
| Intercity | RENFE Class 448 | Madrid-Chamartín <> Hendaya |
| Talgo | Locomotive + Talgo cars III/III-RD/IV/VI/VII | Catalán Talgo Barcelona <> Montpellier Covadonga/Finisterre Barcelona <> Galicia/Gijón Mare Nostrum Cartagena <> Montpellier Miguel de Unamuno Barcelona <> País Vasco/Salamanca Barcelona <> Lorca Barcelona <> Murcia Madrid <> Galicia Alicante <> Galicia Madrid <> Almería Madrid <> Badajoz Madrid <> Bilbao |
| Trenhotel | Locomotive + Talgo cars and sleeper cars | Antonio Machado Francisco de Goya Gibralfaro Joan Miró Pau Casals Rías Gallegas Salvador Dalí |
| AVE | RENFE Class 100 | Madrid-Puerta de Atocha <> Sevilla-Santa Justa |
| RENFE Class 102 | Madrid-Puerta de Atocha <> Huesca Madrid-Puerta de Atocha <> Zaragoza-Delicias Madrid-Chamartín <> Valladolid-Campo Grande Madrid-Puerta de Atocha <> Málaga-Mª Zambrano |
|
| RENFE Class 103 | Madrid-Puerta de Atocha <> Barcelona-Sants Barcelona-Sants <> Málaga-Mª Zambrano Barcelona-Sants <> Zaragoza-Delicias Barcelona-Sants <> Sevilla-Santa Justa |
|
| Altaria | Locomotive + Talgo cars IV/VI/VII | Madrid <> Cádiz Madrid <> Huelva Madrid <> Algeciras Madrid <> Granada Madrid <> Alicante Madrid <> Cartagena Madrid <> Murcia |
| Euromed | RENFE Class 101 | Barcelona <> Valencia <> Alicante |
| Alaris | RENFE Class 490 RENFE Class 120 |
Madrid <> Valencia Madrid <> Castellón Madrid <> Gandía Madrid <> Oropesa de Mar Barcelona <> Valencia Barcelona <> Alicante |
| Arco | Locomotive + conventional passenger cars refitted for 200 km/h operation | García Lorca Barcelona <> Extremadura/Andalucía |
| Alvia | RENFE Class 120 | Madrid <> Logroño Madrid <> Hendaya Madrid <> Pamplona |
| RENFE Class 130 | Madrid <> Asturias Madrid <> Cantabria Madrid <> Bilbao Madrid <> Hendaya Alicante <> Asturias Alicante <> Cantabria |
|
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ RENFE's "concept" train ticket, Gary, 2007-08-06, <http://spainbible.blogspot.com/2007/08/renfes-concept-train-ticket.html>. Retrieved on 10 August 2007
