2024 Spring Train Tickets

[neverlost4good]

I walk April 4th, arriving at MAD from the U.S. I used the app: Trainline, which facilitates train travel for Renfe and other European (I believe) train ticketing. The trains for the first week of April are now available (53 days out when purchased). There is a fast train to Pamplona (3.5 hours), leaving at 10:30 a.m. I arrive at 7:30 a.m. I need to be at the train 30 min. before departure. 2.5 hours then to get to Atocha. I am carrying my pack, so no waiting for luggage. I've walked the entire Francis and sections of others for 7 years now, and I usually breeze through if I'm carrying on, (knocking on wood).

I will catch the airport shuttle to T4, to catch the airport train to Atocha. The nice thing about this ticket is that I have a free ride on that commuter train into Madrid (scanning my ticket). This entire trip was only 25 Euros, but tickets will go up as it gets closer to the date. There is a very good video on Youtube explaining this and other Spain travel: see "ROADTRIPSpainandPortugal" under High-speed train trips. I thought I'd share how easy this was, for anyone interested. I will walk starting in Pamplona on April 4th. See you on the trail!

 

[Anniesantiago]

Thanks for the info about Trainline.
I had not idea it existed.

 

[J Willhaus]

If you find yourself short on time to transfer to T4, you can also take the airport express bus from the other terminals to Atocha for 5 euros.

 

[neverlost4good]

If you find yourself short on time to transfer to T4, you can also take the airport express bus from the other terminals to Atocha for 5 euros.

I have done this as well, it looks like about the same travel time. I just had a free ticket on the commuter, but if time is tight, I will jump on the yellow and black bus for sure!

 

[J Willhaus]

I have done this as well, it looks like about the same travel time. I just had a free ticket on the commuter, but if time is tight, I will jump on the yellow and black bus for sure!

This winter it was a green bus. Don't know what happened with the Yellow buses, but they were easier to spot for certain. Yes, I like the Combinado tickets for the commuter train, too.

 

[BarbaraW]

Anyone else looking for train information I recommend www.seat61.com. It's an independent site set up by a rail enthusiast. It tells you all you need to know about train travel in Europe, including the best sites to buy tickets. RailEurope.com is another company like Trainline that has a good website and makes it easy to buy European tickets.

 

[Kathy F.]

I've also used Trainline and have found it useful throughout most of Europe.

I might suggest to pilgrims who have never done a Camino before (clearly not you, OP), that they spend a day or two in Madrid to recover from jet lag, get their bearings, enjoy Madrid, etc.

The journey starts the moment you hit "buy" on that plane ticket.

 

[DenWhite]

Thanks for the info about Trainline.
I had not idea it existed.

Hi Annie. Trainline is a great booking platform which also has a fare watch option that notifies you when the fares are at their lowest price. Well worth it.
Cheers.