Madrid to Leon

[EL LECHERO]

Does anyone have any insight as to getting a train from Madrid to Leon---and starting the Camino at Astorga? Planning on starting May 1 2016

Thanks
Rich

 

[november_moon]

www.renfe is the site for Spanish trains. There are several trains per day, leaving out of Madrid-Chamartin station. Astorga has a train station too, so check the routings.

There are also buses: https://www.alsa.es/

 

[Castilian]

Trains to León (and to Astorga) depart from Chamartín train station. To reach Chamartín train station, take a Cercanías (Shuttle) train from the Terminal 4 of the airport (they run every 30 minutes). The Cercanías ride will be free if your ticket from Madrid to León (or Astorga) has a "combinado cercanías" code (if you take, for example, an AVE or an Alvia, it'll have it) and if you don't plan to take it more than 4 hours before the departure of your train to León (or Astorga). Even if the Cercanías ride is free for you, you have to get a ticket for the Cercanías (it'll be free but you can't take the train without it).

There are also a few direct trains from Madrid to Astorga (although not daily) so, most days, there's no need to go to León unless you want to make it. www.renfe.com for info about schedules and fares as well as for ticket purchase (usually ticket purchase opens 2 months in advance; sometimes later).

If you don't want to go to the downtown, out of the Terminal 4 of the airport, you can take an Alsa (www.alsa.es/en) bus to León (and to Astorga).

You can take either a bus (with Alsa) or a train (with RENFE) from León to Astorga if you decide to stop in León on your way to Astorga.

 

[EL LECHERO]

Trains to León (and to Astorga) depart from Chamartín train station. To reach Chamartín train station, take a Cercanías (Shuttle) train from the Terminal 4 of the airport (they run every 30 minutes). The Cercanías ride will be free if your ticket from Madrid to León (or Astorga) has a "combinado cercanías" code (if you take, for example, an AVE or an Alvia, it'll have it) and if you don't plan to take it more than 4 hours before the departure of your train to León (or Astorga). Even if the Cercanías ride is free for you, you have to get a ticket for the Cercanías (it'll be free but you can't take the train without it).

There are also a few direct trains from Madrid to Astorga so no need to go to León unless you want to make it. www.renfe.com for info about schedules and fares as well as for ticket purchase (usually ticket purchase opens 2 months in advance; sometimes later).

If you don't want to go to the downtown, out of the Terminal 4 of the airport, you can take an Alsa (www.alsa.es/en) bus to León (and to Astorga).

You can take either a bus (with Alsa) or a train (with RENFE) from León to Astorga if you decide to stop in León on your way to Astorga.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I went to the Renfe website and looked at the map. It looks like there isn't a direct train to Leon or am I mistaken? Which type of train should we take?

 

[Castilian]

It looks like there isn't a direct train to Leon or am I mistaken?

I don't know what map you looked but you are mistaken. There are direct trains from Madrid to León (-well- more than 5 daily). And you can also find one or two direct trains from Madrid to Astorga (right now, daily except Saturdays and public holidays). You shouldn't have problems to find those trains on the web of RENFE once the schedules for your travel date are published (they aren't yet and bookings usually don't open more than two months in advance; sometimes later) but rest assured there'll be some trains from Madrid to León on your travel date (even being your travel date a public holiday as it is).

Which type of train should we take?

I would suggest to take one of the high-speed ones: either an AVE, an Alvia or an AV(E) City.

P.S.: If you want to go all the way to Astorga and there isn't a direct train from Madrid to Astorga on your travel date (because it's a public holiday or a Saturday or by any other reason), don't overlook the Alsa buses out of the terminal 4 of the airport of Madrid.

 

[november_moon]

I have taken the direct train from Madrid to Leon, so its definitely there

 

[tyrrek]

I did the journey in the opposite direction last month. It was about 2hrs 20mins and direct. They recently opened a new section of line that cut the journey time. Book in advance for cheaper fares - even the day before can be a bit cheaper than buying on the day.