Hi. A friend wants to travel from Barcelona Prat airport to Tarragona. She wants to avoid going via estacio sants as she was robbed there a few years back. Has anyone else managed to do this, perhaps by getting a taxi to drop off at the nearest train station south of the airport with connections south ( it does seem crazy that you can see the planes taking off as you go by on the train but have to travel right into Barcelona!
Any help much appreciated, particularly if you do this route regularly and have discovered a way of avoiding that awful sants station.

Easy!

Don't get off at Sants but carry on to the next station, Passeig de Gracia.  Get off, walk to the end of the platform, up over the bridge, down the other side and then get on the next train for Tortosa.  This means no hunting for the Tortosa train platform, queueing for tickets etc.... All trains from the airport go through Passeig de Gracia as do all trains to Tortosa.

Nigel

Thanks Nigel, that's a big help and I'll pass this on to my friend. When you say no need to queu for tickets do you mean that you can buy the ticket at the Barcelona metro station?
Thanks again

sorry, forgot to ask, does anyone know if the obras/ works on the line between barcelona sants and hospitalet ( the barcelona hospitalet, not the one near tarragona ) are still ongoing?

Hello, work was scheduled to be finished on the 27th - yestreday. Buy your ticket for Tarragona at the airport.

Forgot to say. Since the redevelopment of Sants it is a lot safer. You have to have a ticket to get on the platform now. Its not as 'open' as it was. Also , the lighting is much improved. Never felt safe before but no peoblems since the changes

You can buy your ticket on the train. At the airport station you can buy a metro ticket. Never tried buying a train ticket there although there is a  ticket booth so maybe you can buy one there.  If not just get on the train and the ticket collector (Revisor) will pass by and you can buy it directly from him.

Going TO the airport I always get off at Sants and take a cab - usually about 22 euros (m o m) Coming the other way from the airport take a cab to Francia where the trains originate (same cab fare as they go a faster route).  If you've got the times right (and a timetable) you can get onto an empty train at Francia and watch the crowds fight for a seat at your leisure.   The Park Hotel opposite Francia is a goodie if you have an early or late flight (room rate about 70 to 80), cabs from Francia opposite.

Having done the trip mant times, I can confirm that the cheapest option is to buy either a single or return ticket to your destination (Tarragona) at the airport. It saves the cost of the train fare to Sants