Free Train Travel in Spain for Habitual Travellers

Scope

The focus of this article is free train travel in Catalonia but is valid for other parts of Spain.

First, there are multiple transport networks and rail operators in Catalunya:
• TMB metro, trams and busses
• Renfe Rodalies/Cercanies
• Renfe Regional/Medium Distance
• Renfe AVE (High speed/Long distance)
• Ouigo (High speed/Long distance)
• Iryo (High speed/Long distance)
• FGC commuter trains va the (Amoia-Llobregat lines & Valés lines)

for a breakdown of each network see my Public transport guide.

only Renfe Rodalies/Cercanies and Renfe Regional/Medium Distance Are participating in the scheme for "free" train tickets.

About the scheme

The scheme was announced in July 2022 as part of the Spanish Government's effort to reduce the cost of living following skyrocketing inflation after covid.

Registered users can obtain the passes, which will be a QR code via the Renfe app on the mobile phone.

On August 24th 2022, Renfe published a video (in Spanish) explaining the process in more detail. People who are not registered can acquire the free season passes at ticket offices or self-service machines.

Renfe registered users are able to obtain free passes for the Rodalies/cercanies de Catalunya and Media Distancia (regional) routes online.

The Cercanias and Rodalies season passes require a deposit of 10 euros, the medium-distance pass, a deposit of 20 euros. The deposits will be refunded when travellers fulfil the requirement of making at least 16 trips in the mentioned four-month-period.

Renfe's Avant and high-speed AVE services are at a 50% discount if the travel time is less than 100 minutes.

source: Gencat Abono Gratuito Article.

How Register on the Renfe Abono Gratis web portal

• Step 1: Register using this link.
• Step 2: Download the app for renfe Cercanies for Android or Apple.
• Step 3: Purchase ticket through the app selecting origin and destination station, date and time of travel.
• Step 4: In the drop down select a tariff "Seleccione una tarifa", Chose the new "Abono gratuito para viajero frecuente".
• Step 5: This will generate a QR code and a 7 digit pin that you can find in the menu "Comprar billetes - Mis billetes".
• Step 6: When you arrive at the station present the QR code and 7 digit pin in the self service ticket machines or ticket office where you will receive a physical train ticket for the journey. Remember to validate your journey before starting and to ensure it counts towards your minimum of 16 trips.

source: Renfe Cercanies abonos.

Renfe Abono Validity

The Renfe Abono tickets are valid for four months and at the start of each four month cycle you will have to purchase a new abono ticket paying to 10 or 20 euro deposit. Renfe will refund the previous cycle's Abono in the first weeks of the start of a new cycle if you have met the criteria.

1. Four month cycle: Valid from 1st January to 30th April
2. Four months cycle: valid from 1st May to 31st August
3. Four months cycle: valid from 1st September to 31st December

It is free but on the condition that you make at least 16 journeys in the four month period (September to end of December) that the scheme runs. If you make less than 16 journeys, Renfe will retain the 10 or 20 euro deposit.

The Renfe free train tickets scheme is only designed for commuters that make the same journey for work multiple times a week from the same origin and destination station and is not valid to get off the train at intermediary stations.

Other Rail & Transport Network Discounts

1. TMB network: for Barcelona trams, metro and buses has reduced the price of multi-trip tickets by upto 50% for season tickets such as the T-usual, the T-jove (for under 30 year olds), the T-70/90 and the T-4 tickets.
2. T-casual 1 zone: which I habitually use is a ticket of 10 trips for travel inside the city which is not discounted. The Hola BCN cards are also not discounted.
3. FGC lines: for habitual users that use a mutli-zone T-usual or T70/90 ticket have been reduced in price by up to 50%.
4. FGC tourist train lines like the Cremallera de Montserrat and Cremallera de Nuria are not discounted.

For details of which tickets are discounted, visit the TMB Fares reduction page.

Conclusions

On the surface this seems like a good idea but it is also collecting a lot of personal data about passengers and does require multiple steps to set up and benefit from. Additionally, when you make your first train trip and select the free ticket option this will be recorded as your chosen destination and you will only be able to make free trips to this destination.

The best way to travel for tourism and leisure and one off trips is still to buy a ticket, with most train tickets being cheap compared to other cities in Europe.

To explore where you can go by train in Catalunya see my pages on:
• Travel up to one hour from Barcelona by train or bus.
• Travel 1 to 2 hours by train from Barcelona
• Travel 2 to 3 hours by train from Barcelona

Renfe Abono Updates

UPDATE 1: This scheme has been extended into 2024. I have been using it to buy an Abono Gratis ticket, recently to explore Tarragona, visiting over multiple days. In January and February I will be exploring new places using the free train travel pass.

UPDATE 2: Recently I have seen some articles that suggest that the free train tickets Renfe Abono scheme will terminate at the end of August 2024. However checking on the Renfe website it appears that the Abonos Gratis tickets will be available for the cycle of September 2024 to end of December 2024.

Source: Renfe Abono Gratis and Renfe Abonos Gratis para Cercanías y Media distancia.