Returning from Santiago to Lisboa on the train

[syl]

Last year, I got a train ticket from Santiago to Vigo and thence to Porto for the night and a new ticket to Lisboa the following day. But, I got into Porto at midnight, making that a very long day indeed.

This year, I would like to stop at Redondela, spend the night at the albergue, and then go on to Lisboa the next day. Is this possible? I go on the websites for the train schedules and cannot find a stop in Redondela. However, on the various pilgrimmage sites, people are always mentioning changing trains at Redondela.

If I buy a ticket from Vigo to Lisboa, can I stay overnight in Redondela and use the same ticket to travel the next day? Has anyone done this before?

thanks,
Pat

 

[Peter Robins]

This year, I would like to stop at Redondela, spend the night at the albergue, and then go on to Lisboa the next day. Is this possible?

the albergues are supposed to be for pilgrims on foot/bike to Santiago, not people travelling by train! Or to put it the other way round: if you were en route to Santiago and found the albergue was full with a group who had just got off the train and were planning to continue by train the next morning, would you be pleased?

I go on the websites for the train schedules and cannot find a stop in Redondela.

then you must be looking in the wrong place! Santiago-Vigo at http://www.renfe.es/mediadistancia/md_galicia.html
you want "Redondela G" (Redondela de Galicia). Vigo-Porto at http://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Imagens/PD ... a_vigo.pdf
As stated in other threads, the problem is that there are only 2 trains a day over the border; you might find it quicker to get the bus to Tuy, walk over the bridge to Valenca and catch the train there.

If I buy a ticket from Vigo to Lisboa, can I stay overnight in Redondela and use the same ticket to travel the next day?

why get a ticket from Vigo if you're not going there?

 

[syl]

I think I didn't make myself clear. I will be making the hike to Santiago in late September, when there are few walkers on the Portuguese Route. Indeed, when I walked last year at the same time, there were never more than 6 people in the entire albergue! There is no danger of an albergue being crowded when I arrive at that time of year.

I am trying to figure out how to get back to Lisboa after walking to Santiago. I don't have time to walk back, and I prefer to travel by train whenever possible. Last year, I took the train from Santiago to Spain, then waited about 3 hours and got on another train to Porto. But, I arrived in Porto at midnight! That was a problem finding a place to stay.

My companion last year said, "Let's get off in Redondela and go on to Lisboa the next day instead of stopping at Porto." but I didn't know if I could use the same train ticket the next day to continue on south. Thank you for the link to the train planning site. I put in Redondela and got the "no such station" error message. I just might do as you offered by riding a bus to Tui. Thanks for the idea.

 

[Peter Robins]

I think I didn't make myself clear. I will be making the hike to Santiago in late September, when there are few walkers on the Portuguese Route. Indeed, when I walked last year at the same time, there were never more than 6 people in the entire albergue! There is no danger of an albergue being crowded when I arrive at that time of year.

that's not the point. The Xunta albergues are for pilgrims on foot/bike/horse, they are not for people arriving by train/bus/car. Of course, the warden may bend the rules if the albergue is not busy, but that's at their discretion.

I put in Redondela and got the "no such station" error message.

?? You go to "A Coruña - Santiago - Vigo", flip "Origen" to "Santiago C", "Destino" to "Redondela G", and click "Buscar" - it gives all the trains between those stations.