Having problems buying train ticket

[Markaphx]

Hello,
I am trying to buy my train ticket on RENFE from Barcelona to Pamplona for 3/23/15. I'd like to buy the 0930, arriving in Pamplona at 1315. I've been watching the RENFE site and the train I want keeps telling me:

El tren consultado no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Inténtelo de nuevo más adelante y disculpe las molestias.

Or in English:

The consulted train is not available for sale right now. Please try again later and sorry for the inconvenience.

What am I doing wrong? Do I just need to continue to wait? I'm leaving in less than 30 days.

The earlier train leaving Barcelona at 0730 is available. Will I be able to get a taxi from Placa de Catalunya that early in the morning?

Thank you!

 

[dalstonmarra]

Hello,
I am trying to buy my train ticket on RENFE from Barcelona to Pamplona for 3/23/15. I'd like to buy the 0930, arriving in Pamplona at 1315. I've been watching the RENFE site and the train I want keeps telling me:

El tren consultado no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Inténtelo de nuevo más adelante y disculpe las molestias.

Or in English:

The consulted train is not available for sale right now. Please try again later and sorry for the inconvenience.

What am I doing wrong? Do I just need to continue to wait? I'm leaving in less than 30 days.

The earlier train leaving Barcelona at 0730 is available. Will I be able to get a taxi from Placa de Catalunya that early in the morning?

Thank you!

there's a pretty good metro service in Barcelona and the metro is in Placa De Catalunya isn't it.

 

[peregrina2000]

If you put the phrase "El tren consultado no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Inténtelo de nuevo más adelante y disculpe las molestias." in google.es, you'll see there are a lot of customers with the same question about a lot of different trains. Some are just mad, some think that the company operating the fast trains is reevaluating some of the routes, others just chalk it up to general incompetence.

What I would do if I were you would be to buy the earlier ticket. You can get a taxi from the Plaza Catalunya at any time of day or night. Barcelona has a good metro system, too.

Buen camino, Laurie

and p.s. If you are actually able to buy your ticket on the RENFE website, please let me know. I've only been successful once in my life and would like to know if RENFE's promises about making it more accessible have been fulfilled.

 

[Camembert]

Hello,
I am trying to buy my train ticket on RENFE from Barcelona to Pamplona for 3/23/15. I'd like to buy the 0930, arriving in Pamplona at 1315. I've been watching the RENFE site and the train I want keeps telling me:

El tren consultado no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Inténtelo de nuevo más adelante y disculpe las molestias.

Or in English:

The consulted train is not available for sale right now. Please try again later and sorry for the inconvenience.

What am I doing wrong? Do I just need to continue to wait? I'm leaving in less than 30 days.

The earlier train leaving Barcelona at 0730 is available. Will I be able to get a taxi from Placa de Catalunya that early in the morning?

Thank you!

7h30 is not that early. I used to work for three years in Barcelona and even had to be quite a bit earlier on the road to avoid long and bouring traffic jams.
In Barcelona everywhere are taxi's around 24/7
If you stay in a hotel, let the frontdesk call a taxi for you.

 

[bernhugo]

From the UK find Spanish Railways on the internet and then ring them.
They will book a single ticket or a full train tour in Spain for a set price. My 3 journeys cost 10euros in 2012.
Hope this helps, if you are really stuck, but you can get taxis anytime day or night in Barcelona.

 

[scruffy1]

Relax, even on a Monday morning there won't be thousands of mad Catalunyans crowding onto a train for Pamplona at 0930, at 0730 no problem either. Get your ticket in Barcelona.

 

[Mikel Olivares]

Hi all
It's better to buy the ticket in advance, It's more cheaper -there is Offers- that to buy in train station.
Buena suerte.

 

[ivar]

For those with mobile phones/tablets.. there is a RENFE app where they say you can buy tickets in the app. I have never tried it, but here are the links. Looks like Spanish only.

iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/renfeticket/id727555862?mt=8

Android:
https://www.google.es/search?q=renfe+android+app

 

[ranthr]

Hello,
I am trying to buy my train ticket on RENFE from Barcelona to Pamplona for 3/23/15. I'd like to buy the 0930, arriving in Pamplona at 1315. I've been watching the RENFE site and the train I want keeps telling me:

El tren consultado no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Inténtelo de nuevo más adelante y disculpe las molestias.

Or in English:

The consulted train is not available for sale right now. Please try again later and sorry for the inconvenience.

What am I doing wrong? Do I just need to continue to wait? I'm leaving in less than 30 days.

The earlier train leaving Barcelona at 0730 is available. Will I be able to get a taxi from Placa de Catalunya that early in the morning?

Thank you!

I booked some tickets last summer on the Renfe web. Some of the long distance routes cannot be bought until a few weeks ahead, think I waited until 2 or 3 weeks ahead. It was easy then, reserved a ticket, paid by creditcard, got a mail with a bookingnumber which I used to print out my tickets at home. Can also be printed out at a ticket machine at the railwaystation.
I use the Renfe app to check up horarios, but I prefer to book on web. Some routes cannot be be bought on the app.

 

[ranthr]

For those with mobile phones/tablets.. there is a RENFE app where they say you can buy tickets in the app. I have never tried it, but here are the links. Looks like Spanish only.

iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/es/app/renfeticket/id727555862?mt=8

Android:
https://www.google.es/search?q=renfe+android+app

My app uses English. I probably chose that language when I opened the app first time.

 

[peregrina2000]

I booked some tickets last summer on the Renfe web. Some of the long distance routes cannot be bought until a few weeks ahead, think I waited until 2 or 3 weeks ahead. It was easy then, reserved a ticket, paid by creditcard, got a mail with a bookingnumber which I used to print out my tickets at home. Can also be printed out at a ticket machine at the railwaystation.
I use the Renfe app to check up horarios, but I prefer to book on web. Some routes cannot be be bought on the app.

Ahh, Ranthr, but you are in Norway. It's the poor pilgrims in North America who have had years of frustration using the RENFE website.

 

[Markaphx]

Well I've been trying to buy on RENFE and on Petrabax.com (that seat61 suggests ) several times a day and I'm not able to get it done.
Now I think I'm stuck buying my ticket when I get to Barcelona.
Is there a ticket booth in the airport or near Placa de Catalunya? I'd like to buy my ticket when I arrive the day before my train trip and don't want to make a special trip to the train station.

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi mark
I wouldn't say you're stuck.

I secured my ticket for last sept (on line from Australia). Same method as 'ranthr'

Worked ok and I had paperwork with me. I stayed in a hotel in walking distance to Barcelona Sants. All ok


But. I do feel that it would have been easier just to have got it the day before travelling or even on the day once in Barcelona. They are a friendly 'mob' and they will sort you out.

Also buying online added quite a bit in conversion of the price (Aussie credit card to euro - Renfe )

If you buy direct there in euro it's a straight out transaction with no extras you find later.

I'm sure you'll get a seat no probs. and if all else fails there are lots of buses to Pamplona.

Enjoy your walk
Buen Camino
Annie

 

[Kanga]

This is a very helpful article on buying tickets online, discounts, etc http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#How_to_use_www.renfe.com

 

[SuGardner]

Hello,
I am trying to buy my train ticket on RENFE from Barcelona to Pamplona for 3/23/15. I'd like to buy the 0930, arriving in Pamplona at 1315. I've been watching the RENFE site and the train I want keeps telling me:

El tren consultado no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Inténtelo de nuevo más adelante y disculpe las molestias.

Or in English:

The consulted train is not available for sale right now. Please try again later and sorry for the inconvenience.

What am I doing wrong? Do I just need to continue to wait? I'm leaving in less than 30 days.

The earlier train leaving Barcelona at 0730 is available. Will I be able to get a taxi from Placa de Catalunya that early in the morning?

Thank you!

We are likely going to be following the same route in June (Barcelona to Pamplona to SJPP). May I ask where you are planning to stay in Barcelona? Hope the train situation works out well for you. Buen Camino!

 

[Bypass]

I downloaded the app. Thanks for the advice. It does allow you to select the language.

My wife and I will start the Camino in early May.

 

[jpflavin1]

Hello,
I am trying to buy my train ticket on RENFE from Barcelona to Pamplona for 3/23/15. I'd like to buy the 0930, arriving in Pamplona at 1315. I've been watching the RENFE site and the train I want keeps telling me:

El tren consultado no se encuentra disponible para la venta en estos momentos. Inténtelo de nuevo más adelante y disculpe las molestias.

Or in English:

The consulted train is not available for sale right now. Please try again later and sorry for the inconvenience.

What am I doing wrong? Do I just need to continue to wait? I'm leaving in less than 30 days.

The earlier train leaving Barcelona at 0730 is available. Will I be able to get a taxi from Placa de Catalunya that early in the morning?

Thank you!

Markaphx:

I do not recall having any problem purchasing my ticket online in 2012. My problem was the day I arrived there was a general strike and no transportation of any kind was available. I got a room near Barcelona Sants train station (lots of hotels within walking distance) and the next morning went to the station. At first they refused to give me an exchange but eventually relented. Since that time, I have always purchased my tickets at the train station when I renew my (Tarjeta Dorada card). I do not think it will be an issue other than maybe lines but I find that unlikely early in the morning. Spain is a nocturnal society.

In regards to the cost of purchasing in advance versus at the station, I can honestly say I am not sure. I never had any difficulty finding a cab in Barcelona.

I went on the RENFE website and that 9:30 train does not seem to be available after March 20 for some reason.

Ultreya,
Joe

 

[ebrandt]

This is a very helpful article on buying tickets online, discounts, etc http://www.seat61.com/Spain-trains.htm#How_to_use_www.renfe.com

Kanga -- the seat61 site you mentioned is GREAT! Thanks so much. I am not certain the Renfe site will work from the US when we get ready to purchase our tickets, but the how to on that site is really helpful and the info decoding all the choices is very good. LIz

 

[david malta]

Here it is. No promo price for the 09:30 train. Perhaps you could buy the 07:30 ticket. Have a look at this article as I found it great to answer my questions. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html

Buen Camino

 

[david malta]

Kanga -- the seat61 site you mentioned is GREAT! Thanks so much. I am not certain the Renfe site will work from the US when we get ready to purchase our tickets, but the how to on that site is really helpful and the info decoding all the choices is very good. LIz

Renfe has some time restrictions for booking. I suggest that non-Europeans, if they encounter problems, should try at a different time.

 

[Markaphx]

We are likely going to be following the same route in June (Barcelona to Pamplona to SJPP). May I ask where you are planning to stay in Barcelona? Hope the train situation works out well for you. Buen Camino!

I'm staying at the St Christopher Inn Hostal right on Placa de Catalunya. They have pod beds that are semi private and good prices.
Two nights, just enough to get over jet lag and see a bit of the city.

 

[jpflavin1]

View attachment 16648

Here it is. No promo price for the 09:30 train. Perhaps you could buy the 07:30 ticket. Have a look at this article as I found it great to answer my questions. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187514-c80518/Madrid:Spain:Buying.Renfe.Tickets.Online.html

Buen Camino

I could also access the 9:30 train today. Not sure what the issue was yesterday.