Air
Transport
Almost 30% of all international travellers to Spain arrive
by air. The figure of over fifty million passengers arriving
or leaving Spanish airports, with nearly 70% travelling on
non-scheduled flights, ranks Spain as the world's leading
user of charter flights.
Spain's strategic geographical situation, taken together with
its tourist industry, explains the importance of international
passenger travel, especially vis Europe which accounts for
roughly 75% of the total. The number to call for complete
information and bookings on domestic and international flights
is Infor Iberia, Phone: 913.29.57.67.
Domestic air traffic tends to concentrate on Madrid-Barajas
Airport which, linked via a shuttle service to Barcelona,
handles some 2,500,000 passengers per year. The busiest routes,
apart from the shuttle, are the Madrid-Balearic and Madrid-Canary
Island runs.
Maritime Transport
Seaborne passenger
transport is of relevance in ports, such as Algeciras (3.8
million), Ceuta (2.2 million) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (2.6
million). The Trasmediterránea company runs a regular
ferry service between the mainland and: North Africa, (from
Almería and Malaga to Melilla; and from Algeciras to
Ceuta and Tangiers, with daily sailings); the Balearic Isles
(from Barcelona and Valencia, with daily sailings); and the
Canary Islands (from Cadiz, with weekly sailings). Bookings
to all these destinations can be made by calling the following
number: 913.22.91.00.
Buses
The public coach
service is comfortable and efficient, with different lines
covering long-distance routes on a regular timetable. There
is also a good network of bus and coach companies catering
for short-distance travel and sightseeing trips.
Railways
The Spanish rail network has some 15,000 kilometres of track,
with 471 kilometres corresponding to the high-speed Madrid-Seville
(AVE) link, a distance covered in 21¼4 hours. Another
high-speed train is the Talgo 200, which covers the Madrid-Malaga,
and Madrid-Cadiz and Huelva routes. As in the case of the
road grid, the rail network run by Spanish Rail (RENFE), Spain's
state-owned rail operator, takes the shape of a spider web
centred on Madrid, with the main lines radiating out to cover
the country and a series of interconnecting transversal lines
(the most important being the Mediterranean and River Ebro
corridors). Depending on the season, RENFE sets
a series of special fares, thanks to which rail travel becomes
a far more attractive proposition.
A tourist card exists, exclusively available to non-residents,
giving unlimited travel on all routes, with the possibility
of reserving a seat, at a price set on a sliding scale according
to the length of the period of validity. The Euro rail system
is similar, giving the tourist the right to travel from the
country of origin, with no limit as to mileage.
Among the special rail itineraries for tourists, mention must
be made of the Al-Andalus Express, which operates from April
to December (excluding July and August) and, over a five-day
period, takes passengers on an attractive tour of Andalusia,
complete with classic, luxuriously appointed carriages and
the full complement of services, side-trips and meals; the
Strawberry Train (Tren de la Fresa), from April to October,
linking Madrid with Aranjuez; and, lastly, the narrow-gauge
Transcantábrico (FEVE), from June to October, with
its scenic run along the North of Spain from San Sebastián
across to Santiago de Compostela. For ticket bookings and
information, kindly call RENFE at 913.28.90.20.
Roads
Spain has an extensive road grid covering close on 340,000
kilometres, and of this total 7,000 kilometres represent highways
(toll motorways, freeways and dual-carriageways). This highway
network, a great part of which is toll-free, makes it possible
for the visitor to drive in comfort from the Pyrenees all
the way down to Andalusia, either along the Mediterranean
coast or, alternatively, inland via Madrid, the nation's communications
node by virtue of its central position. A comprehensive network
of petrol stations and roadside rest areas offer the widest
possible range of en-route services. |