More RENFE routes opening up...

[Camino Chrissy]

I have been looking every day for weeks and weeks to purchase tickets from Santiago to Segovia at the end of my Camino on May 13th and was getting concerned as on both the Renfe and Trainline websites it kept saying "no availability" every day. Finally yesterday the date opened up...yay! We were able to book the first train of the day as a three hour non-stop. The later ones were eight hours long with two stops. We always use Trainline and the tickets were an additional $5/each, but it is a UK English website and always accepts my credit card, so I never mind paying for the convenience.

All this to say, if some of you are getting a little nervous waiting to book necessary trains, don't lose heart.

 

[P A Rodriguez]

I have been looking every day for weeks and weeks to purchase tickets from Santiago to Segovia at the end of my Camino on May 13th and was getting concerned as on both the Renfe and Trainline websites it kept saying "no availability" every day. Finally yesterday the date opened up...yay! We were able to book the first train of the day as a three hour non-stop. The later ones were eight hours long with two stops. We always use Trainline and the tickets were an additional $5/each, but it is a UK English website and always accepts my credit card, so I never mind paying for the convenience.

All this to say, if some of you are getting a little nervous waiting to book necessary trains, don't lose heart.

You may pay via PayPal on the Renfe website. At least for US travelers. I had easy transactions for my April- May CF trip.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

You may pay via PayPal on the Renfe website. At least for US travelers. I had easy transactions for my April- May CF trip.

I do not have a paypal account and do not plan to get one, nor do I speak Spanish. I know the Renfe site can be converted to English, and many on the forum use it and appreciate it.
I am a happy customer of Trainline for many years. Last year, they surprisingly/quickly "made right" in our communications in English, resolving a problem that was entirely my own error/fault. Kudos to them and no translation was needed in the process.

 

[J Willhaus]

I know some people use PayPal, but there is a charge to use it. I had an account and rarely if ever used it so I closed it. I also use Trainline although I usually also check Renfe on price (despite their rejection of my credit card). They show both bus and train connections on Trainline..

 

[DwainS]

I have been looking every day for weeks and weeks to purchase tickets from Santiago to Segovia at the end of my Camino on May 13th and was getting concerned as on both the Renfe and Trainline websites it kept saying "no availability" every day. Finally yesterday the date opened up...yay! We were able to book the first train of the day as a three hour non-stop. The later ones were eight hours long with two stops. We always use Trainline and the tickets were an additional $5/each, but it is a UK English website and always accepts my credit card, so I never mind paying for the convenience.

All this to say, if some of you are getting a little nervous waiting to book necessary trains, don't lose heart.

I was just on Trainline today looking for a ticket in June from Santiago to Madrid and it showed no availability. Thanks for the post. I already have some bus and train ticket booked on Trainline of May just need that last Train ticket in June. I don't mind paying a little extra as I don't have Pay Pal and my Trainline phone app keeps track of both my Train and Bus tickets.

 

[akane81]

I'm also looking for train tickets from Madrid to Sarria, then Santiago to Madrid for early June. I guess I'll need to wait for a couple of weeks before I can get those online. Just wondering if its possible to get ticket and a train seat on the spot?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I'm also looking for train tickets from Madrid to Sarria, then Santiago to Madrid for early June. I guess I'll need to wait for a couple of weeks before I can get those online. Just wondering if its possible to get ticket and a train seat on the spot?

We were given the choice to select seats, but there was an upcharge so we let them choose for us and they did put the two of us sitting together.

 

[J Willhaus]

I'm also looking for train tickets from Madrid to Sarria, then Santiago to Madrid for early June. I guess I'll need to wait for a couple of weeks before I can get those online. Just wondering if its possible to get ticket and a train seat on the spot?

You can buy at the station. It is usually more expensive and you do run the risk of the train selling out. I have been posting that there will be some changes to schedules and fewer trains (same number of seats) this summer due to the ongoing construction at the Chamartin station.

I try to post any updates I see in the newspaper.
edit: One time we waited on tickets and had to delay to another time and then could not sit together. that was in the summer.

 

[Barbara]

I'm also looking for train tickets from Madrid to Sarria, then Santiago to Madrid for early June. I guess I'll need to wait for a couple of weeks before I can get those online. Just wondering if its possible to get ticket and a train seat on the spot?

Yes, it is. Any station in Spain with a booking office can do that.

 

[akane81]

I'm also looking for train tickets from Madrid to Sarria, then Santiago to Madrid for early June. I guess I'll need to wait for a couple of weeks before I can get those online. Just wondering if its possible to get ticket and a train seat on the spot?

I just checked Renfe website randomly and miraculously I was able to get my train tickets both ways. Booked for June!