Historic carriages, luxury amenities, and a key departure point on the 2026 itineraries of a spectacular tourist train.

Inspired by legendary models such as the Orient Express, the origin of the Al Ándalus tourist train dates back to 1985 when, in collaboration with Renfe, it began offering routes through the Andalusia region in southern Spain .

For years, the train offered highly successful routes across Spain until interest waned and it ceased operations in 2005 because it was no longer profitable. After significant changes, Al Ándalus was reborn in 2012, regaining its luster and interest among travelers .

Now, as part of its 40th anniversary celebrations, the train is embarking on a new era and has just announced the addition of Madrid , among other new stops, to its service starting in the 2026 season . The Community of Madrid will be the departure or arrival point for the journey.

Next year's itineraries will maintain their 7-day, 6-night structure , combining heritage, gastronomy, and landscapes from the south and inland of the Iberian Peninsula. In addition to Madrid, there will be stops (or visits) to destinations such as Aranjuez, Toledo, Cáceres, Mérida, Córdoba, Jerez, Cádiz, and Seville.

Departures include on-board accommodation, excursions, cultural visits, and gastronomy.

"This expansion not only brings the Al-Andalus train closer to new audiences , but also reinforces its commitment to a sustainable, exclusive, and experiential model of rail tourism. The new route allows visitors to discover the region from a different perspective , in an environment that combines history, comfort, and attention to detail," said Renfe.

The train currently consists of four lounge cars and seven sleeping cars with 32 suites . All the cars have been renovated, adding services and comfort, while maintaining period details.

To give you an idea, of the cabins, five are classic ex-CIWL cars, built in France in the late 1920s and, according to the company, "originally used by the British monarchy for their holiday trips from Calais to the French Riviera."

There are two sleeping cabin options : the Deluxe Suite (8.25 m2) and the Grand Class Room (6.58 m2), both with private bathrooms and showers. In both cases, the beds transform into a comfortable sofa during the day, allowing you to enjoy the scenery, relax, or read in greater privacy.

The lounge cars are also "jewels of railway heritage" : the Medina Azahara car (WR-3562) was built by the La Naval shipyard in Bilbao in 1930, as a restaurant; the Alhambra dining car (WR-3579) dates from 1929 and comes from Charente, France; while the Gibralfaro (WR-3395) dates from the same year but was built in Great Britain. The Giralda (WR-3582) is a former Wagons-Lits dining car built in France in 1928 for luxury trains.

All of them were first rebuilt in 1985 for the inauguration of the Al Andalus, and again renovated for the return of the train in 2012.

For the 2026 season , a departure from Madrid to Seville costs from 6,600 euros per person in a Grand Class double room.

The meeting point is in Madrid, where you'll take a panoramic tour and then head to Aranjuez —there's also a visit to the Royal Palace—where you'll board the train.

This itinerary includes stops in Alcázar de San Juan, Cáceres, Mérida, Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Córdoba, and Seville. Tours and activities are included in each city (official website: spanishluxurytrain.com).