If you open this RENFE (Spanish railways) page it shows the local (CERCANIAS) trains for Seville.

renfe.es/cercanias/…index_horarios.html

You can see that Lora del Rio is in Zone 5 on the C1 train and the daily return ticket costs Euros 4.60 and the journey takes 45 minutes. You can also get monthly tickets. There are two stations in the city it calls at: Santa Justa and San Bernardo. The latter is closer to the central tourist sights.

There is also a train called Andalucia Express that runs,as you say from Cordoba, and times of this one are shown on www.renfe.es/horarios/english/index.html

This train takes 30 minutes and is more expensive at 3.65 single and only runs 6 times a day whereas the Cercanias is much more frequent.

Have not been to Lora Del Rio so can't comment but it looks nice.

Thank you so much for this, I'm sure she will want to live in the city in preference then as it seems commutable. I will check out the links you sent. If anyone else has any more info on the actual town, its 'attractions' and/or safety issues, I would still be grateful. Also any info on finding an apartment in the city for around ten months to rent on a small budget and how to find sharers would be very helpful!!! Thanks again for such a speedy reply, much appreciated.