Police to patrol train stations in Spain’s Andalucia from Friday to crackdown on ‘illegal’ travel during COVID-19 shut down

POLICIA Nacional will be screening passengers at Renfe stations from Friday in a bid to crackdown on ‘illegal’ travel.

Officers will be questioning those boarding the cross-country trains at stations like Maria Zambrano in Malaga, making sure they have a justified reason to travel.

It comes after the Junta de Andalucia announced the closure of its external borders and 449 municipalities yesterday, including the entirety of Sevilla, Jaen and Granada provinces.

“Before your trip, check possible restrictions or sanitary conditions on the website of the autonomous community you are travelling to,” reads the new advice on the Renfe website.

The police controls will ensure each passenger has a justified reason to travel as well as the necessary documents to prove it.

Exceptions include travelling for work, medical appointments and to take care of dependants, among others.

Renfe is still set to operate between five and six daily trips from Malaga to Madrid.

Anyone who has had to cancel their travel plans can exchange their ticket or get a full refund.

Guardia Civil and Policia Nacional will also be controlling ferries crossing to Melilla and Ceuta.

The same restrictions and exceptions are in force.

The exceptions for travelling to another municipality or region are: assisting health centres and services; work, professional, business, institutional or legal obligations; going to university, teaching and educational centres; returning home; caring for the elderly, minors, dependants, people with disabilities or especially vulnerable people; travelling to financial or insurance entities or refuelling your car or vehicle in neighbouring territories (for border towns which don’t have their own petrol stations); required or urgent actions before public or judicial bodies (including the notary); renewals of permits and official documentation, as well as other administrative procedures that cannot be postponed; Conducting exams or official tests that cannot be postponed.

You must be able to prove your exception with documentation.