To all the experienced CP travelers: ? about train systems

[LynneR]

Hello,
I have asked for help regarding transportation on CP and I thank people for their responses. I land in Lisbon but will begin my walk in Porto.
It looks like the best choice is to take a train from Lisbon Oriente to Porto, but now I see there are two train systems: IT and AP.
Can any experienced traveler tell me if there is a difference? Should I choose one over the other?
Thanks so much.
Lynne

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

Hi Lynne!
I did the very same thing on my first Camino. As long as you get there, enjoy the experience. Keep tight hold of any openings/zippers/etc. to your essentials! Sorry to write but, it appears that these rail connections are at times an invitation to steal.
Don't let this scare you...just be enlightened and move forward to YOUR Camino!

 

[GracieMarnelle]

Hello,
I have asked for help regarding transportation on CP and I thank people for their responses. I land in Lisbon but will begin my walk in Porto.
It looks like the best choice is to take a train from Lisbon Oriente to Porto, but now I see there are two train systems: IT and AP.
Can any experienced traveler tell me if there is a difference? Should I choose one over the other?
Thanks so much.
Lynne

Hi Lyne,

I just arrived in Porto yesterday having flown into Lisbon. noticed you mentioned IT and AP as the possible trains, looking at my ticket it only mentions CP, hopefully my experience will be a little helpful still.

I took the Metro from the airport to the Oriente station which cost €2 for a ticket. From here I went to the 3rd or 4th floor where there is alot of small teller buildings. I was able to buy a ticket to Porto on the CP train from the ticket sales box 23/24 (o didnt arrange anything beforehand, the trains seemed to come every 30-40 minutes). The train ticket was €25 but your eligible for a decent discount if your under 25 or over 65 in age.

It was a great ride, around 3 hours and it stopped around 4 times. Very comfortable and loads of space to store your bag above you in the shelves (nice and close). On your ticket is shows your selected carriage number and seat number which was relatively easy to locate once on the train. The ticket sales person was extremely helpful and talked me through how to exactly to take the train.

I got off at the Porto Campanha station. It was the last stop, the PA did announce the stops in english so its easy to make sure you get off at the right stop. I took the nearby train to the Sāo Bento train station which was closer to my hotel and the travel was included in my train ticket already.

Hopefully this helps! I begin my first Camino this Monday 10th and can’t wait.

Gracie

 

[JCLima]

It looks like the best choice is to take a train from Lisbon Oriente to Porto, but now I see there are two train systems: IT and AP.
Can any experienced traveler tell me if there is a difference? Should I choose one over the other?
Thanks so much.
Lynne

You mean IC and AP right?
IC means intercidades and AP Alfa pendular.

The AP trains are newer, faster and are supposed to be better but I like the IC better because it is cheaper lol

I don't think you should worry about it. Just get on one. They are both good and will take you to Porto

 

[JCLima]

jIust arrived in Porto yesterday having flown into Lisbon. noticed you mentioned IT and AP as the possible trains, looking at my ticket it only mentions CP, hopefully my experience will be a little helpful still.

CP, Comboios de Portugal, is the company.
IC and AP are the types of trains/services.

 

[LynneR]

Hi Lyne,

I just arrived in Porto yesterday having flown into Lisbon. noticed you mentioned IT and AP as the possible trains, looking at my ticket it only mentions CP, hopefully my experience will be a little helpful still.

I took the Metro from the airport to the Oriente station which cost €2 for a ticket. From here I went to the 3rd or 4th floor where there is alot of small teller buildings. I was able to buy a ticket to Porto on the CP train from the ticket sales box 23/24 (o didnt arrange anything beforehand, the trains seemed to come every 30-40 minutes). The train ticket was €25 but your eligible for a decent discount if your under 25 or over 65 in age.

It was a great ride, around 3 hours and it stopped around 4 times. Very comfortable and loads of space to store your bag above you in the shelves (nice and close). On your ticket is shows your selected carriage number and seat number which was relatively easy to locate once on the train. The ticket sales person was extremely helpful and talked me through how to exactly to take the train.

I got off at the Porto Campanha station. It was the last stop, the PA did announce the stops in english so its easy to make sure you get off at the right stop. I took the nearby train to the Sāo Bento train station which was closer to my hotel and the travel was included in my train ticket already.

Hopefully this helps! I begin my first Camino this Monday 10th and can’t wait.

Gracie

First, enjoy your Camino!
Second, thanks for all of those details. Very, very helpful!
The step by step is easing my concern and helping me plan a bit better for my journey.
Enjoy your walk. I hope it is a safe and meaningful pilgrimage.
Lynne

 

[dfox]

... Very comfortable and loads of space to store your bag above you in the shelves (nice and close).

To be mindful the bag(s) one places in the overhead-shelf in a train - I hope I am not an alarmist.

A few years ago, I took a train from Munich, Germany to Vienna. A fellow traveller put his bag in the overhead-shelf and relaxed. However, when he was ready to get off the train and noticed that his bag was no longer in the shelf.

A theory is that someone wanted to "steal" the bag, once the train stopped at a station, he/she casually took the bag as he was the owner of the bag and left the train.

 

[LynneR]

To be mindful the bag(s) one places in the overhead-shelf in a train - I hope I am not an alarmist.

A few years ago, I took a train from Munich, Germany to Vienna. A fellow traveller put his bag in the overhead-shelf and relaxed. However, when he was ready to get off the train and noticed that his bag was no longer in the shelf.

A theory is that someone wanted to "steal" the bag, once the train stopped at a station, he/she casually took the bag as he was the owner of the bag and left the train.

Well that is unfortunate!!

Yes-unfortunately we have to be reminded of things we would never imagine doing ourselves! Thanks for the tip.
Lynne

 

[Delphinoula]

My most resent experience was taking a train from Seville to Jerez.
In Spain for longer distance you should get it a day ahead to make sure, because they will only sell it if there is a seat available.
Traveling to Praha, Berlin, Wroclaw, Paris, Greece and Istanbul on trains never had a problem. You may want to secure your backpack with an extendable lock to the carrier rack, so you can use the facilities and I always ask a traveling companion to have an eye on it for me. Anything out of sight can walk away. Other than that is really fun.
Bus system is great too and often less expensive or Bla Bla Car.
Bon. Camino

 

[gloria lowe]

I’m arriving in Lisbon at the end of the month and booked a ticket on the train site that goes from Lisbon, Oriente to the Sao Bento station, that is about 3 blocks from where I’m staying. It was 26€ and very easy to do online.