When searching for train journeys on European rail network websites you would expect the prices to be the same no matter what language you are searching in. So, I was surprised to find out that Renfe, Spain’s train network seems to be offering cheaper tickets if you search in Spanish.
The comparison
From Barcelona to Madrid on the 29 April 2009. The comparison is for the AVE03260 train, departing at 6.30am and arriving 9.08am when searching on Renfe rail network website. Price on the Spanish version is €51.70, where as on the English version is €129.30.
Cheaper tickets for Spanish speakers
There’s a difference of €77.60 in the two prices, so unless I am mistaken, it appears that the Spanish version of the website has web special and star fares; where as the English version just has the standard rate. Search the Renfe website for yourself and you’ll see what I mean.
Missed in translation
I ran a quick search on the German, DB Bahn and French, SCNF websites and the prices are the same, no matter which language you use. So, I was wondering if anyone had come up against this before, or am I missing something out of the Spanish translation.
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Míriam | 14 April, 2009 at 10:04 pm
hey! Renfe may have read your post and twitt as the site is currently under maintance service!
HB | 15 April, 2009 at 8:59 am
That’s appalling that they would do that. They can try and cover it by saying that they where web specials and star fair’s but it’s just blatant profiteering.
Lee Harrison | 15 April, 2009 at 9:14 am
Little hat tip for you Darren and your readers.
If you haven’t already discovered The Man in Seat 61, this is one of the most comprehensive guides to rail travel. As He mentions when planning your journey, just don’t nick his seat.
Jack Norell | 15 April, 2009 at 9:33 am
I highly suspect the Italian rail sites are doing the same. When searching from London I get quite different prices than getting a walkup ticket at a machine in Italy…
Laura Barnhouse | 15 April, 2009 at 12:14 pm
The same happens in South America as well. Very annoying!
Darren Cronian | 15 April, 2009 at 4:08 pm
@ Lee
Thanks for the link. Have you heard of this type of “tactic” before offering more expensive fares to Engilsh speaking? The more I look at the translation of the site the more I realise its not a translation issue, they are offering cheaper train fares to Spanish people, or Spanish speakers.
Going to drop them an email tonight and we’ll see what they say (probably no response)
Clive | 8 May, 2009 at 1:28 pm
All’s fair in love and war – good spot. Its just a slightly novel form of differential pricing, but essentially no different to charging people different amounts depending when they travel. Just wish our tain companies would do the same but in reverse with cheaper fares for searching in Spanish!
Pingback - Upgrade: Travel Better | 11 May, 2009 at 5:48 pm
[...] quick search shows that other English-speakers have had similar experiences, and that some users have been unable to complete a purchase at [...]
utku | 26 May, 2009 at 8:32 am
Yes, I also realise it. In Renfe site, translation was not even a complete english translation. I attempted to buy from raileurope and it is much more expensive compared to spanish prices and discounts were not applied in raileurope.
Could any english speakers buy a discounted Renfe ticket from any site or agency?
Hani | 19 July, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I just bought a Renfe ticket (web special). If you look at at the left hand screen (right below the spanish sign in box) there is a tiny drop down option to get the english version of the site.
From thereon it is self-explanatory.
Make sure to print your ticket (disable pop-up blockers) as you must have that copy to board the train. That is, as a matter of fact your ticket.
Just as an FYI, I bought my ticket for $75 Canadian (Madrid to Barcelona), while going through the raileurope pass would have cost me $315 Canadian. Mind you, the web special tickets are non-refundable, non-changable
Patty O'Heater | 13 October, 2009 at 2:28 pm
This is not some dastardly Spanish conspiracy, it’s just that RENFE can’t be arsed to give a proper translation service. Most of the available information does not appear on the English pages and any type of link to another page will usually revert to Spanish. The site is almost useless if you don’t speak Spanish. All prices and offers are available to everyone – you just have to know some Spanish if you wish to use their on-line booking service.
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11 responses to “Renfe train fares difference for English speaking customers”