Without the service given by Renfe's short distance train public transportation the inhabitants of Madrid and its region would be lost. This service allows a great number of citizens to come into the city on time and confortably.

Thanks to the existence of these trains traffic jams are reduced , and the connection between great part of our autonomous region's territory and between this one and the neighbouring regions of Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha is easier and faster. In many points this network and the subway's are connected, as a result of this, the city of Madrid is connected to the main cities within its region and viceversa.

Cercanías (greater Madrid light railway) is a commuter train service that travels to the outskirts of Madrid and beyond  - El Escorial (click here), Aranjuez, Alcalá de Henares, Guadalajara or the mountains of Madrid  - Cercanías stations are underground near the city center but above ground further out. They can be recognised by the rotated white "C" on red as shown here in the icon below - .

These trains are comfortable and punctual. They are not too crowded except at rush hours, heated in winter and air-conditoned in summer.

if you are planning to visit Toledo, Segovia, Avila, Chinchón or Ciudad Real, you'll have to take the regional or media distancia trains.

Price varies by distance and also depending on the type of train you take. Many lines run now high speed trains which are more expensive.

Information: 902 24 02 02
You can use the telephone assistance of the railway company and take your chances that the person on the other side speaks English or refer to the following pages where you can also buy your ticket:

At present, the Suburban service lines have the following routes:

C-1: Alcalá de Henares - Alcobendas / San Sebastián de los Reyes
C-2: Guadalajara  - Atocha  -Chamartín
C-3: Atocha  - Aranjuez
C-3a: Pinto  - San Martín de la Vega
C-4: Atocha  - Parla
C-5: Móstoles / El Soto  - Atocha  - Fuenlabrada  - Humanes
C-7: Alcalá de Henares  - Atocha  - Chamartín  - Príncipe Pío  - Atocha  - Chamartín  - Colmenar Viejo
C-8: Atocha  - Chamartín  - Villalba
C-8a: Atocha  - Chamartín - El Escorial
C-9: Cercedilla  - Cotos
C-10: Villalba  - Príncipe Pío  - Atocha  - Chamartín  - Tres Cantos

 More information:

Renfe: www.renfe.es/cercanias/madrid/index.html
Renfe in english: http://horarios.renfe.es/hir/ingles.html

On the site of the Madrid Transport Consortium (click here) you also have a lot of information on Cercanías trains: suggestions on the best paths to take to all Madrid municipalities and to commute between them, both by train and by bus, as well as timetables and prices (in English).