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ARCHIVED - How to get your deposit back for a railcard in Spain and get a new one for 2023
You will have to buy a new rail pass every four months to travel for free on Spanish trains this year
Since September 2022, Spain has had a much publicised scheme offering free train fares for regular travellers on local Cercanías and Rodalies trains and on intercity Media Distancia trains run by state train operator Renfe, in an effort to ease the pressure of the rising cost of living.
Passengers could buy a railcard for 10 euros on Cercanías trains or 20 euros on Media Distancia trains, depending on the type of train, and as long as they made 16 journeys between September and the end of December they could get their money back.
This popular scheme has been extended into 2023. But to continue to benefit from free train travel in Spain, you will have to buy a new travel pass that last for a further four months, until the end of April. This holds true both for those who already had travel passes for the last four months of 2022 and for those who are looking to start their free rail journeys now.
How to get reimbursed for your 2022 railcard
According to Renfe, from January 9, 2023, the deposit for your 2022 season ticket will be automatically refunded if you paid by credit card.
If you paid in cash, you will have to go to the points of sale at the stations from January 15, 2023 to be given a refund.
These refunds are only available if you completed the necessary number of journeys to be eligible for free travel. If you did not complete 16 train journeys between September 1 and December 31, you will not get your money back.
How to renew your season ticket for Cercanías and Media Distancia trains in 2023
As of December 29, 2022, you can buy your free travel pass to travel on Spanish trains during the first four months of 2023.
There are three ways to buy a new free Spain train pass. You can buy in person at the train station, on the Renfe website, or through the Renfe app which allows you to conveniently carry your season ticket on your mobile phone.
For each four-month period that passes, passengers will have to take out a new free pass with deposit included. This cycle of refunding/crediting of the deposit will be repeated constantly as season tickets are renewed.
These are the four-month periods that will comprise each free pass:
- January 1 - April 30, 2023
- May 1 - August 31, 2023
- September 1 - December 31, 2023
The difference for 2023 is that the deposit amount will be returned to the passenger’s pockets much earlier each time, just one day after the subscription expires.
Remember that, for now at least, it is mandatory to wear a face mask on all public transport in Spain, including trains, metro subways, buses, coaches and planes.
You may also like: These are all the free long-distance bus routes in Spain 2023
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