Getting to Ponferrada Sept 2016

[tubelcain]

Hi Forum Members,

Apologies if this has been covered before.
Travelling to Ponferrada this Sept to pick up from where I stopped last year.
I would hope to fly to Santiago from Dublin, and then take a train to Ponferrada as the Alsa bus departs prior to the time of the arrival time of my flight landing in Santiago.
Presently the schedules for the trains in Sept are not available.
My question is……(from other walkers experience), What is the frequency like for the trains from Santiago to Ponferrada in September. I've tried to view them online but the current timetables only show times for train departures till mid June
I've checked the timings also from Madrid (Alsa bus) and a similar situation exists there also.
Thanks in advance.
T

 

[crackmrmac]

Hi, I travelled twice from Santiago to Ponferrada in recent years, April & Jun., having flown with Aer Lingus. Taking the train on day of flight meant late arrival (11pm ?) in Ponferrada. I opted to overnight in Santiago and catch train around 8:30 the following morning arriving in Ponferrada around noon to begin walking.

 

[whariwharangi]

You can plan using existing Renfe schedule for the day of the week. The schedule doesn't change much. You can then confirm your plan closer to dates of travel.

Alternative is to take Empresa Freire bus from Santiago airport to Lugo and Gonzalez de la Riva bus from Lugo to Ponferrada.

Empresa Freire
http://www.empresafreire.com/

Gonzalez de la Riva
http://gonzalezdelariva.es/

Or

Take Monbus from Santiago to Monforte de Lemos and catch Renfe train there. Monforte de Lemos is on line between Ponferrada and Vigo.