Renfe changes the rules for Murcia train passengers from December

The changes will affect regional and longer-distance trains linking Murcia and Cartagena with Alicante and Valencia, with new travel rules coming into force on December 12

Anyone who regularly travels by train between Murcia, Cartagena, Alicante and Valencia will need to get used to new rules this December, as Renfe changes how tickets are sold and what passengers can bring on board.

From Saturday December 12, passengers on the affected regional and longer-distance services will be able to buy a ticket without reserving a numbered seat. The change should make booking a journey more straightforward, particularly for people who use these trains regularly to get to work, attend classes, or visit family and friends.

You will still need a valid ticket for your journey, but there will no longer be a need to book a specific seat in advance. Renfe says the new system is intended to give passengers greater flexibility and make both buying tickets and boarding trains easier.

There is also good news for anyone who likes to combine a train journey with a bike ride. Renfe is removing the extra charge for carrying a full-size bicycle on the affected services, making it easier to take your bike along without paying more for the privilege.

Travelling with a pet is also becoming cheaper. The additional charge will be scrapped for pets weighing up to 10 kilos when carried in a suitable transport carrier, as well as for dogs weighing up to 40 kilos. Renfe's usual transport conditions will still apply, so passengers should check the requirements before setting off.

The company has already made travel free for eligible pets on services operating under its T1 fare system, which covers journeys with more stops and longer travel times. The plan is to extend this arrangement to the other affected services over the coming weeks.

The new rules will apply to the Media Distancia and Regional services linking Valencia, Alicante, Murcia and Cartagena, giving passengers travelling within the Region or heading further along the coast access to the changes from December 12.

Renfe is introducing the new ticketing system on seven other railway routes elsewhere in Spain, including services in Castilla y León, Navarra, the Basque Country, Galicia and Extremadura.

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