Help with Renfe Train tickets

daveanddrew wrote on Thu Nov 25, 2021 3:51pm:

I would appreciate some guidance on the Train tickets from Malaga to Fuengirola. We have been recent visitors to this area over the past few months and noticed people seem to have a train ticket they hold up to the ticket machine and get a discount. also I hear there is an over 60's card that can...

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... be purchased. I have looked on the net and the articles start off in English then go into Spanish so cannot really get to the bottom of the discount system, all replies would be appreciated.

Many thanks David

Kelly60 wrote on Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:53am:

Hello,

My husband and I are over 60 and were able to obtain one of these cards at the Fuengirola train station - the Tarjeta Dorada card. We had to fill out an application form that requires identification (passport) as well as a photo of a particular size we attached to the application. Fill it out and...

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... bring it back to the same station and they will inform you your card will be available to you in around a week. We use this card at the machines and you can also use them at the train stations that have an attendant at. This helps us get a great discount in our local fares (for instance, it only costs 1,10 for a train trip from Fuengirola to Plaza Mayor and Belamadena). The cost for this card is 6 Euro per year. You keep the same card once issued and just pay 6 Euro each year. There is also another card used for discounts on the 'green bus line'. You can get this at the Tobacco Shop near the bullring at Camino de Coin. You put money on the card like you are banking the funds, then when you use the train between Fuengirola and Malaga stations (C1 train line) you don't have to have coins on you. You use it for the said bus line and trains. It's a bit tricky finding out how to use both cards so I will let you know how to do this... The machine at the train stations will first ask for your Tarjeta Dorada card. You put this card on the machine first. Then you wait for it to ask you how you want to pay. You will then press the option for the green card (sorry don't have the name of the card with me at this time). Put your green card (money banked card) against the screen now. Let it accept that and then you still need to again put your Tarjeta Dorada card on there afterwards. Make sure you have asked for the gold card option as well to obtain your discount. It's all a bit complicated until you start using these cards but so worth the discounts once you figure it out. You can also receive a separate card (this one is only a paper card) that gives you 25% discount on the C2 line - the long distance train line. I hope this helps. If you get stuck, there is a really good guy who works at the Fuengirola train station who speaks English who helped us out. There is construction at this station right now so you won't be able to go up to the desk. There should be an attendant around there who could help you out though.

pricklyone wrote on Fri Nov 26, 2021 11:29am:

I get a tarjeta dorada every year and it's always been done and dusted at the counter. I've never, ever had to supply photos, fill out forms, or wait for the card to be ready. You don't have to be resident to get one, just provide ID and proof of age (usually passport for UK folk) and it's issued...

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... right away for immediate use. It's really easy.

Kelly60 wrote on Fri Nov 26, 2021 4:41pm:

You may be correct about the paper card for the long distance train rides (C2 line), but we did have to do all of the above mentioned to receive the plastic card with our photo on it for the C1 line. We are non residents from Canada and own an apartment here.

Kelly60 wrote on Fri Nov 26, 2021 8:53am:

Hello,

My husband and I are over 60 and were able to obtain one of these cards at the Fuengirola train station - the Tarjeta Dorada card. We had to fill out an application form that requires identification (passport) as well as a photo of a particular size we attached to the application. Fill it out and...

Read more...

... bring it back to the same station and they will inform you your card will be available to you in around a week. We use this card at the machines and you can also use them at the train stations that have an attendant at. This helps us get a great discount in our local fares (for instance, it only costs 1,10 for a train trip from Fuengirola to Plaza Mayor and Belamadena). The cost for this card is 6 Euro per year. You keep the same card once issued and just pay 6 Euro each year. There is also another card used for discounts on the 'green bus line'. You can get this at the Tobacco Shop near the bullring at Camino de Coin. You put money on the card like you are banking the funds, then when you use the train between Fuengirola and Malaga stations (C1 train line) you don't have to have coins on you. You use it for the said bus line and trains. It's a bit tricky finding out how to use both cards so I will let you know how to do this... The machine at the train stations will first ask for your Tarjeta Dorada card. You put this card on the machine first. Then you wait for it to ask you how you want to pay. You will then press the option for the green card (sorry don't have the name of the card with me at this time). Put your green card (money banked card) against the screen now. Let it accept that and then you still need to again put your Tarjeta Dorada card on there afterwards. Make sure you have asked for the gold card option as well to obtain your discount. It's all a bit complicated until you start using these cards but so worth the discounts once you figure it out. You can also receive a separate card (this one is only a paper card) that gives you 25% discount on the C2 line - the long distance train line. I hope this helps. If you get stuck, there is a really good guy who works at the Fuengirola train station who speaks English who helped us out. There is construction at this station right now so you won't be able to go up to the desk. There should be an attendant around there who could help you out though.