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Rail

RENFE (tel: (902) 240 202 (24-hour) or (93) 490 1122 (international enquiries); website: www.renfe.es), runs the Spanish rail network, which radiates from Madrid to all the major cities. There are also transversal routes and services running from the French border along the Mediterranean coast. The ones to avoid are tranvía, semidirecto and correo trains, all of which chug along at a leisurely pace. Seat reservations are required on all intercity trains. Supplements are payable on many faster trains, even for those holding Interail and Eurail passes.

Estació Central-Sants, Plaça del Païses Catalans, is the city's main station serving national and international destinations as well as suburban routes. Facilities in the station building include tourist information, hotel information, left luggage, a bank offering currency exchange (daily 0800-2200), a restaurant and cafeteria, shops, a first-aid point, showers, lockers and secure parking.

Rail services: There are direct trains to Barcelona from: Paris (journey time - 11 hours 15 minutes); Montpellier (journey time - 4 hours 33 minutes); Milan (journey time - 13 hours 13 minutes) and Zurich (journey time - 13 hours). There are eight daily departures to Madrid (journey time - 8 hours), including three sleeper services. A new high-speed rail service linking Barcelona with Madrid and destinations in France is planned for 2004.

Transport to the city: Central-Sants is some way from the city centre but is located at the junction of two metro lines: the green line (3) and the blue line (5). Facilities at the station include shops, cafÉ and toilets. Estació de França is near the Barceloneta metro stop. On some train routes an alternative to both these stations is Passeig de Gràcia station, located close to Plaça de Catalunya and La Rambla.



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