Buying Train Tickets Online

[johannm]

I was attempting to buy a train ticket online at the Renfe site. I filled out the form to the point where I'm asked for my NIF. Since I don't have one, and can't get one, how do I complete this and buy a ticket?
Thanks

[imc]

Have you tried it with passport?
Do you know that the first time you pay with a credit card you have to collect the tickets in the station?

[Acosta]

I can find a site where you can make reservations via the USA

Hold on....

[Pepino]

Have you tried it with passport?
Do you know that the first time you pay with a credit card you have to collect the tickets in the station?

Yep, quite right. Just pop your passport number in and it'll work.

I bought my first train tickets a few weeks ago on the website, and went to the Renfe desk in the station to collect them. There was no one waiting at the counters, so I thought it would be a marvellous speedy pick-up, until I turned around and saw a massive throng of people waiting, all clutching sweaty numbered tickets waiting to be called forward. I was there for over 2 hours waiting just to pick the tickets up that I thought booking over the web would make easy! Ah well, like you say, it's apparently quicker the second time around.

Let's hope so. :)

[guapo]

The first time I had to pick up tickets was at Atocha in Madrid and they had a separate desk for internet bookings which was empty. The normal queues were out of the door....

On subsequent trips I have been able to collect tickets when boarding the train which is great when you are in a hurry.

[johannm]

Thanks - the passport info was correct and the tickets were purchased!

[Acosta]

LOL I put in my drivers license number

[nat]

So I was also trying to book my tickets tonight and the passport number trick didn't work for me... any ideas on what I'm doing wrong? I also tried my driver's licence but no luck there either.

I was also wondering if we get delayed how flexible are these tickets? How far in advance should I be there to pick them... plan is to fly in to Madrid and get to Seville right away...

thx

[landlady]

When I went To Alicante to purchase my Madrid tickets for this morning's travel ;D There were two queues, one for purchasing in advance and one for getting them for that day. The latter queue went through very quickly. Why not just wait until you arrive at Madrid and get them then. Make sure you get a ticket from the machine for your turn though - I waiting 5 mins before I realised that was what people were doing.

[nat]

hmmm, our concern was that it's the long weekend and the train may be full... or does that not happen? How long was the wait?