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ALSA Bus from Pamplona

K

kfm

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances (2019)
Hello, I just booked a ticket on the ALSA bus from Pamplona to St. Jean Pied de Port. My ticket says that boarding is closed 30 min before departure time. How strict is this? Trying to decide which RENFE train to book from Barcelona. One would arrive about 5 min ahead of the "boarding closing" time, but 35 min ahead of the departure time, and I'm wondering if that is cutting it too close. Thanks in advance!
 
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You won't make it! The 30 minute boarding rule isn't strictly enforced, but even so, that's not enough time to make this journey. Especially allowing for disembarking the train, finding your way out of the station, finding a taxi, driving through traffic, orienting yourself at the bus station (it's underground, and quite big) and getting on the right bus.

Take an earlier train and enjoy a rest in Pamplona - it's a beautiful town.
 
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Probably won't make it but there's always a chance. They may allow a Peregrino on late.

Here's the fastest way to the Bus Station.

Buen Camino.

 
I don’t understand why your ticket says that boarding closes half an hour before the bus leaves... I have not taken that journey but I use the bus station to go to Bilbao most years and see that buses usually are ready to take passengers about ten minutes before departure time. I know exactly how to get from the train station to the bus station, as I know that area well, but you would have to be a smart walker to get to the bus station, with the excellent map shown above, with time to spare to locate the bus platform.
 
Funnily enough I was in Pamplona station two weeks ago, waiting for my bus to Puente - I had also made sure I was 30 minutes early, like the ticket said. I was chatting to pilgrims waiting for that bus.
The departure boards don't show the platform number until the bus actually comes in! so platform number appears just a few minutes before it goes out again. So there is no way to queue 30 minutes before for a bus - unless you are a local and know which platform it will go to, and they don't queue until it comes in.

I watched that bus come in and the few pilgrims walking out to it and getting on.

Same with my bus - no platform number until about ten minutes before the bus actually left - that 30 minutes boarding warning is pointless.
If the bus is actually there on the platform early because it is starting from there it is locked and the driver is in the canteen until about ten minutes before the off.

Train to bus station is 1.4 miles, a 30 minute walk - mainly along one road so is very simple - but would give you a window of only a few minutes - and when you get to the bus station it will be unfamiliar territory and you would have to find the platform - is all underground by the way - would give me pause, doing that.
 
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Lance Chambers said:
Probably won't make it but there's always a chance. They may allow a Peregrino on late.

Here's the fastest way to the Bus Station.

Buen Camino.

View attachment 55198
Click to expand...



I don't think that is the shortest way. Walking one turns the opposite way out of the station then turns right then walks straight for a mile, south east, then bus station is on the right.
The dotted line on the map.
 
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kirkie said:
I don’t understand why your ticket says that boarding closes half an hour before the bus leaves...
Click to expand...
I was also surprised about this. Turns out that ALSA has this rule for international bus trips - which Pamplona to SJPP is.

For trips within Spain, ALSA recommends that passengers arrive 10 minutes before departure. Fair enough for long distance trips, as the driver needs to check the tickets and help with loading luggage and wants to leave on time.
 
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David said:
I don't think that is the shortest way. Walking one turns the opposite way out of the station then turns right then walks straight for a mile, south east, then bus station is on the right.
The dotted line on the map.View attachment 55207
Click to expand...

The route shown in the image you posted isn't the one l posted. But, as long as there isn't too much difference l'm guessing there is still a chance they will let people board.
 
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I arrived at Pamplona bus station once and was really hungry after a long bus ride. I noticed that the cafe/restaurant had tablecloths. In England bus station cafe's can be a bit 'rough' (popular with homeless people and drunks - I know because I was a homeless drunk in them days). Tablecloths? And the prices were very reasonable too. Best meal I have ever had in Pamplona. With waitress service and very friendly. Recommended!
 
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