I am planning to visit Madrid for a single day to see Parque Warner. My plan is to arrive from Leon at Chamartin station in the morning. Change to a Cercanías train to Atocha. Here I will drop of my luggage at my nearby hotel and immediately go back to Atocha Station. Then I will take another Cercanías to Pinto Station, where a bus will take me to Parque Warner.
When Parque Warner closes around midnight, I need to go back to my hotel. I will take a bus back to Pinto. Here I will take the last train to Atocha at 23:58.
My question is how do I pass the gates at the Cercanías stations. The first train at Chamartin is not a problem. I can use the QR-code at my seat reservation from the connecting train.
Can I use the same QR code again at Atocha? Or is it single use? Otherwise I hope I can make the staff open the gate for me.
But what about Pinto station at 23:58? My QR-code will no longer be valid. Will there be any staff to help me at this time of the day?
Is it possible to get a paper-ticket at Atocha station to open the gates at Pinto station?
Cercanías gates in Madrid
Best answer by rvdborgt
Renfe seem to rely on staff heavily to open the gates.
My strategy for Renfe gates is:
- Try the pass QR code. They might just implement it. It worked for a few days, a few years ago in Catalonia, not sure how it has developed since then.
- Look for staff at the station. Any staff, really. E.g. security staff will find the responsible staff if they can't open the gate themselves.
- Try the call button on/near the gate. That will try to reach someone at a call centre. If you're lucky, then someone's there and you can say something like "Tenemos Interrail” (We have Interrail). If you're very lucky, then they will open the gate without any questions. That worked a few times for us.
- Follow someone else through the gate.
- If all else fails, jump the gate.
We didn't need #5 until now but I wouldn't hesitate if nothing else works and I want to catch my train. It's Renfe's responsibility to make the gates work for passengers with valid tickets, and if they don't do their job, then that's what happens.
Renfe seem to rely on staff heavily to open the gates.
My strategy for Renfe gates is:
- Try the pass QR code. They might just implement it. It worked for a few days, a few years ago in Catalonia, not sure how it has developed since then.
- Look for staff at the station. Any staff, really. E.g. security staff will find the responsible staff if they can't open the gate themselves.
- Try the call button on/near the gate. That will try to reach someone at a call centre. If you're lucky, then someone's there and you can say something like "Tenemos Interrail” (We have Interrail). If you're very lucky, then they will open the gate without any questions. That worked a few times for us.
- Follow someone else through the gate.
- If all else fails, jump the gate.
We didn't need #5 until now but I wouldn't hesitate if nothing else works and I want to catch my train. It's Renfe's responsibility to make the gates work for passengers with valid tickets, and if they don't do their job, then that's what happens.
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