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Did I hear correctly there is a fast train from SdC to Madrid?

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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
First half of the journey is very scenic, but feels like you’re never going to get anywhere, then suddenly it gets a move on. 4.5 hours or thereabouts.
It arrives at Chamartin, the northern station in the business district.
 
henrythedog said:
First half of the journey is very scenic, but feels like you’re never going to get anywhere, then suddenly it gets a move on. 4.5 hours or thereabouts.
It arrives at Chamartin, the northern station in the business district.
Click to expand...
I caught the fast train from SdC to Madrid in July 2019. It was great! It didn't feel fast until I looked at the speed display in the carriage or looked at G Maps on my phone.
 
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henrythedog said:
First half of the journey is very scenic, but feels like you’re never going to get anywhere, then suddenly it gets a move on. 4.5 hours or thereabouts.
It arrives at Chamartin, the northern station in the business district.
Click to expand...

Almost as fast as flying when you consider all the wasted time of getting to Airport, checking in, waiting etc etc.
 
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nathanael said:
personally, I enjoy that train very scenic, I remember when there was a night train that took forever and stopped at every village.
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I miss the Tren Hotel. It was perfect for me. I would get a bed, sleep through the night, arrive at Chamartin about 8:00 and catch a 10:00 flight home. Travel and hotel wrapped in one.
 
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I also took this train two weeks ago to Madrid. I will keep doing it when in Santiago. The bus takes twice as long (about 8 hours) to Madrid. As for flying, as someone wrote above, 4 and 1/2 hour is about as fast, if not faster, than getting on a plane (considering the fuzz of transport and waiting at the airport). The train is comfortable and doesn't make any stops so I felt I was in Madrid in no time! I took the train at about 6:30 in the morning, I arrived around 11 and had almost a whole sunny day to spend in Madrid!
 
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Yes, in May 2016 I took the fast train from SdC. It left really early in morning and took approximately 5.5 hours. I took a photo of the speed, keep in mind this wasn’t the fastest this fast train traveled. it was a pleasant ride.
 
They always had, the faster one has less stops and Was only certain days if I remember correctly

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jpflavin1 said:
I miss the Tren Hotel. It was perfect for me. I would get a bed, sleep through the night, arrive at Chamartin about 8:00 and catch a 10:00 flight home. Travel and hotel wrapped in one.
Click to expand...
Wait, what, it’s gone ?!? I loved my little train compartment. Nice dinner, watch some scenery go by, falling asleep to sound of train…
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
henrythedog said:
Has the Trenhotel ceased or is it just suspended because of you-know-what?
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Wikipedia has some back and forth on this question. Turns out they were suspended during covid, then most were permanently cancelled (including Lisbon-Madrid, which I have taken and enjoyed). But then in 2020, Renfe announced that the trenhotel would be restored to Galicia. As of April, 2021, at least according to this source, nothing has happened to make people think it will be restored.

I think that if the EU makes progress in its plan to reduce short flights in order to encourage train travel, it may rise again. But for now, I don’t think there are many people who want to pay for a bunk on an overnight train when you can fly for 30 euros!

Trenhotel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org
 
RIP trenhotel…if pics post correctly my travel “companions” checking out the bed (next to cheap suitcases I bought in dollar store to pack my backpack, poles etc for flight home), the view from the dining car

in fact if covid ever settles down I’d planned to take the train to the east coast next year just bc I had so much fun traveling on the trenhotel and the FEVE
 

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