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Date Published: 26/08/2022

Important changes to the Murcia-Madrid rail connection: no trains through Archena and buses straight to Albacete

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A bus will directly connect Cartagena, Torre Pacheco, Balsicas-Mar Menor, Murcia and intermediate stations with Albacete station, without changing trains in Archena

Important changes to the Murcia-Madrid rail connection: no trains through Archena and buses straight to Albacete

The Murcia to Madrid train line is changing once again. Train company Renfe has updated its alternative transport plan for the Long Distance trains (Intercity and Alvia) that link Murcia with Spain’s capital city, which had been established due to the second phase of the construction work programmed by Adif last February 28.

The news comes in the same week as Renfe has already given away thousands of ‘free’ tickets on its Medium Distance and Cercanías trains.

With the new changes to the Murcia-Madrid rail connection, the train linking Archena with Albacete train stations has been scrapped, even though it was expected to be in place for three years. Instead, passengers will be taken directly from Murcia to Albacete by bus, without having to change trains in the town of Archena, as has been the case since the end of February until now.

Related story: Excavation of Murcia-Almeria high-speed AVE train tunnel gets underway

Thus, the journey from Cartagena, Torre Pacheco, Balsicas-Mar Menor and Murcia city, as well as all other intermediate stations, will be made by bus to Albacete station. There will be no Intercity service between Archena-Fortuna and Albacete.

From now on, passengers on the Long Distance trains linking the Region of Murcia with Madrid will only change at Albacete train station to connect with the high-speed AVE rail services connecting Albacete with Madrid.

The bus service goes in both directions, leaving from Cartagena 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the usual train in order to guarantee that passengers arrive on time. If you are travelling from any of the Murcia towns to Albacete to get the AVE train, calculate to leave half an hour earlier than expected.

However, there will be one exception to this new service. Renfe has stressed that the transfer at Archena will still take place at the weekends.

The Intercity Madrid-Águilas train that runs on weekends (Friday and Sunday) will continue to travel by bus from Águilas to Archena, with intermediate stops at the stations of Lorca Sutullena, Alhama de Murcia, Totana and Murcia del Carmen to connect from Archena to Madrid by train.

Since October 1, 2021, due to the start of the first phase of the works programmes by Adif, the Cercanías services on line C2 have been operated by bus between Murcia del Carmen-Lorca Sutullena-Águilas.

The alternative plan has two bus services in both directions, a semi-direct one, with stops in Alhama de Murcia, Totana and Lorca San Diego, and a seasonal one with stops at all the stations along the route.

The service between Lorca and Águilas runs with a seasonal bus stopping at all stations along the route (Puerto Lumbreras, Almendricos, Pulpí, Jaravía, Águilas El Labradorcico and Águilas) on the arrival of the semi-direct bus from Murcia.

Likewise, passengers on the Intercity service between Barcelona and Lorca Sutullena make the journey by road between Murcia del Carmen and Lorca.

Now read: How to get free train tickets for rail travel in Spain

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