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Useful websites for planning train journeys

NualaOC

Veteran Member
Time of past OR future Camino
A few and hopefully lots more.
I noticed a few recent posts about the trials and tribulations of planning rail travel to/from the Camino.

The German website www.bahn.de is a brilliant resource when planning train journeys in Europe. It is especially good when the journey begins in one country, but ends in another. It's easy to use and I think it's better/clearer than the other rail company websites.

http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#.VRgmvymsbww is also a good source of information.

Nuala
 
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The German website www.bahn.de is a brilliant resource when planning train journeys in Europe. It is especially good when the journey begins in one country, but ends in another. It's easy to use and I think it's better/clearer than the other rail company websites.

The site of the DB is a very good source to look for schedules for train travel in most of Europe because it includes schedules for the main train operators in most European countries. Although from time to time it misses some trains of some of those train operators, it's overall the best source to look for international train schedules within Europe as well as a better source than RENFE itself to look for train schedules within Spain for routes that require a change of trains along the route.

The web of the man in seat 61 (http://www.seat61.com), it's another good source to get info about train travel in Europe. It provides overall info about the rail system in almost all European countries, how to buy train tickets (don't miss this info to get the best prices and to avoid, when it's possible, agents that sell tickets but with a markup that train companies and/or other agents don't include) on and/or for each of the countries he quotes, what rail passes are available and other really useful infos and tips.

Those of you looking for a map of the rail network of each European country could use the next link to find them. Although, it seems it hasn't been updated since 2010 and some of the maps aren't fully accurate nowdays, it's still quite useful.

http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/maps.php
 
www.rome2rio.com is excellent, because it gives you multiple transit options between origin and destination. For Camino travel it will point you to Alsa and other bus options, as well as train, plane, and auto, and if you have to make a connection inside a city such as Pamplona or Bayonne, or out of an airport, it will provide city maps with taxi and walking instructions.
 
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Looking for help to get from Burgos to santiago in June 2015. Train or bus?
 
Here's the link for the website of TER Aquitaine, who run the trains from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port: https://www.ter.sncf.com/aquitaine

And here's the direct link for the timetable for trains from Bayonne to St Jean Pied de Port. Note that until July 2015 the train only runs from Bayonne to Cambo-les-Baines, where you have to change for a replacement bus to St Jean. This is due to the line being blocked by an embankment collapse caused by heavy rains during the first half of 2014: http://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF/aquitaine/62-AFFICHE-15_02_03_2015_tcm50-35352_tcm50-9053.pdf

Of course there's also the website of SNCF who are responsible for trains all over France: http://en.voyages-sncf.com/en/
 
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Renfe operates Spain's national trains, Light Rail Transit in major cities - Cercanias/Rodalies, and FEVE narrow gauge trains in the North of Spain.
http://www.renfe.com/

Euskotren connects a commuter rail service from Bilbao Spain to Hendaye France
http://www.euskotren.es/

SNCF operates France's trains including TGV, Intercites, and TER regional trains.
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

SNCF TER information is better obtained from the TER site.
http://www.sncf.com/fr/trains/ter

Comboios de Portugal operates Portugal's trains including urban, regional, national, and international train services.
http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?vgnextoid=87cbd5abe2a74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD

UK National Rail
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Eurostar train connects London St Pancras International with Paris Gare du Nord.
http://www.eurostar.com/
 
Hi, I'm trying to find a train from Sahagun to get to Biarritz in June. The only train I've found is the 16:20 from Sahagun, arriving at Hendaye/Hendaya at 21.15. My question is how do I get to Biarritz old town from Hendaye? I can't find a connecting train so will I have to get a taxi? Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place but I can't cope with all the Forum sites and I have tried! :)
 
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Hi, I'm trying to find a train from Sahagun to get to Biarritz in June. The only train I've found is the 16:20 from Sahagun, arriving at Hendaye/Hendaya at 21.15. My question is how do I get to Biarritz old town from Hendaye? I can't find a connecting train so will I have to get a taxi? Sorry if I'm posting in the wrong place but I can't cope with all the Forum sites and I have tried! :)

There likely will not be bus or train service from Hendaye at 2115 as it will have shut down for the night.

SNCF operates trains from Gare Hendaye (the same place as your Renfe train terminates) to Gare Biarritz. Chronoplus urban bus connects Gare Biarritz to Biarritz.

Transports64 operates buses from Gare Hendaye to Biarritz.

SNCF
http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers

Transdev ATCRB (transports64)
http://www.transports-atcrb.com/
 
Hi Whariwharangi, that was quick! All the way from Canada too! Muchas Gracias!
Yup, no trains after mine! I think it's going to be difficult to even get a bus, though it's a Friday! Thank you for the two websites which I have already looked at but one seems to give me a thirteen hour journey for some reason and the other gives up too! I have no trouble booking flights but trains is something else!
 
The only train I've found is the 16:20 from Sahagun, arriving at Hendaye/Hendaya at 21.15.

If that train (the only direct one from Sahagún to Hendaye) arrives too late for connections from Hendaye to Biarritz (as it seems to be the case), you can make the route from Sahagún to Hendaye changing trains in Valladolid (a small detour but it might worth it). Verify the schedule on your specific travel date but usually, there's a MD train departing Sahagún at 07:32 a.m. and arriving Valladolid at 08:52 a.m. Once in Valladolid, there's and Alvia train departing at 09:18 a.m. to Hendaye. Connection at your own risk though, the Alvia won't wait if the MD is late.
 
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Hi Castilian, thanks for this, though as you say it's risky re time. I've already had problems in Spain going from Madrid to Ponferrada where the train broke down and added an hour to my journey. I think I may have to bite the bullet and pay for a taxi, if available! :)
 
Hi Castilian, thanks for this, though as you say it's risky re time.

It's not that risky. I don't recall the last time I took a MD train with more than 20 minutes of delay although, of course, it doesn't mean it couldn't happen the day you need it to be most on time (but I don't see it a big problem unless things go really bad, see below). In addition, if you missed the Alvia (due to a late arrival of the MD), RENFE should provide you an alternative to get to Hendaye (probably the afternoon Alvia out of Valladolid itself or maybe an option changing trains in Palencia). Any alternative transport offered by RENFE if you miss your connection in Valladolid due to a late arrival of your train from Sahagún won't be a worse option than the direct train from Sahagún because, although you would arrive to Hendaye at the same time than the direct train from Sahagún (if they offer you the option of going changing trains in Palencia) or a bit later (if they offer you the afternoon direct Alvia from Valladolid), you would have to take a taxi to get from Hendaye to Biarritz anyway.

In other words, if everything goes fine (as it goes most days) with the option changing trains in Valladolid you would avoid the taxi ride from Hendaye to Biarritz. If something goes wrong, most likely it'll just mean a return to your initial planned arrival time (or a similar one) so there's almost nothing to risk by trying the option changing trains in Valladolid in the morning (unless you were really really unlucky -e.g.: a strike meaning one or all of the trains you plan to take doesn't run on that day (although that could happen to the direct train out of Sahagún too) or they run but the alternative if the first one is heavily delayed doesn't run...-).

P.S.: If your MD train happened to be delayed more than 15 minutes, you have also right to get part of the cost of the ticket refunded by RENFE (the exact amount vary depending on the exact delay of the train).

P.S.(2): If you don't bother to arrive to Irún (on the Spanish side of the border) instead of to Hendaye (on the French side of the border), there's a MD train from Valladolid to Irún departing Valladolid at 11:54 a.m. and arriving Irún before 17:00 that could be a good option if you missed the Alvia train due to late arrival of the train from Sahagún. That train would allow you too to avoid a taxi from Hendaye to Biarritz (walk from Irún to Hendaye and take a SNCF train from Hendaye to Biarritz)... The more I think about it, the more I see the option changing in Valladolid as the best one for you.
 
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It's not that risky. I don't recall the last time I took a MD train with more than 20 minutes of delay although, of course, it doesn't mean it couldn't happen the day you need it to be most on time (but I don't see it a big problem unless things go really bad, see below). In addition, if you missed the Alvia (due to a late arrival of the MD), RENFE should provide you an alternative to get to Hendaye (probably the afternoon Alvia out of Valladolid itself or maybe an option changing trains in Palencia). Any alternative transport offered by RENFE if you miss your connection in Valladolid due to a late arrival of your train from Sahagún won't be a worse option than the direct train from Sahagún because, although you would arrive to Hendaye at the same time than the direct train from Sahagún (if they offer you the option of going changing trains in Palencia) or a bit later (if they offer you the afternoon direct Alvia from Valladolid), you would have to take a taxi to get from Hendaye to Biarritz anyway.

In other words, if everything goes fine (as it goes most days) with the option changing trains in Valladolid you would avoid the taxi ride from Hendaye to Biarritz. If something goes wrong, most likely it'll just mean a return to your initial planned arrival time (or a similar one) so there's almost nothing to risk by trying the option changing trains in Valladolid in the morning (unless you were really really unlucky -e.g.: a strike meaning one or all of the trains you plan to take doesn't run on that day (although that could happen to the direct train out of Sahagún too) or they run but the alternative if the first one is heavily delayed doesn't run...-).

P.S.: If your MD train happened to be delayed more than 15 minutes, you have also right to get part of the cost of the ticket refunded by RENFE (the exact amount vary depending on the exact delay of the train).
Hi Castilian,
You're right, there's 26 minutes, long enough and it will be far better than arriving late! Why I might even have time for a paddle in the sea in Biarritz! Thanks for your help, I feel a lot more confident now! :)
 
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