The Costa del Sol's local commuter trains, the Cercanias railways connecting Malaga and Fuengirola has seen an unprecedented record number of passengers this year. With ten million travellers expected to have used the service by the end of 2016, Cercanias will be among the top five train lines in the country.
Figures published by the Ministry of Public Works suggest that the final figure for 2016 may even come close to the all-time record of 10.1 million, last registered before the 2088 economic crisis struck. Many of Marbella's 140,000 residents, not to mention the millions of tourists visiting the glamour resort at the Costa del Sol every year, would LOVE to be able to hop on Cercanias trains instead of having to be stuck in traffic jams or travel on congested roads.
In 2015 9.9 million passengers used the train services in Malaga province, a figure that is dwarfed by Madrid's 200 million passengers per year, but nonetheless impressive. Spain's second busiest commuter train services operate in Barcelona, where around 100 million people use the Cercanias every year, while Valencia and Bilbao are in third and fourth place.
This summer alone saw 2.2 million people use the commuter services in Malaga province, a 5.3% increase compared to summer 2015, thanks to a boom in tourism.
Train Services from Malaga Airport's Train Station:
For those with a Marbella holiday home or retirement home at the Costa del Sol, Malaga Airport train station offers a wide range of fast RENFE trains, buses and commuter services for easy onward journeys, making it easy to dash back home to visit family and friends for a few days.
Reaching Malaga is also quick and easy. There are ticket machines everywhere. The airport's many bus services take just 11 minutes to reach Malaga city. Passengers pay 1.80 Euros for a single journey (price correct as of summer 2016).
The first train leaving the airport for Malaga City leaves at 6.44 am, running at 20-minute intervals thereafter until 00.54 am, when the last train leaves the airport for Malaga.
Commuter lines like the ones described above run all the way to Fuengirola, a 13-stop journey that takes ca. 35 minutes and costs just 3.60 Euros for a single trip. From Fuengirola it's easy to get a bus to neighbouring towns or to inland villages. The first train leaving Malaga Airport for Fuengirola runs at 05.32 am, leaving at 20-minute intervals thereafter until 11.42 pm, when the last train leaves the airport for Fuengirola.
For the return to the airport, early birds should catch the first train, which leaves Fuengirola at 6.10 am. The last Malaga Airport train service of the day leaves Fuengirola at 00.20 am.
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Malaga tourists returning to the airport can catch the first train from Malaga-Centro Alhameda train station at 05.20 am. The last train of the day leaves the station at 11.30 pm for Malaga Airport. All these trains run daily, including weekends and during public holidays.
Malaga Airport's train station is well signposted throughout the arrivals terminal 3, but those signs are unfortunately easily missed, as they are neutral-coloured and don't stand out too much as a result. Watch out for RENFE train station signs at terminal 3, which will direct you to the mezzanine level, from where passengers can cross over to the access road in front of the train station. Malaga Airport's train station is located just across the main plaza opposite arrivals terminal 3.