The Renfe Rail strike

Julie H

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

September/October 2015

• Sep 9, 2015

• #1

I just received notification about the coming rail strike September 11, 14 & 15. I was booked to be travelling from Barcelona to Pamplona on the 15th and this may now be disrupted. Can anyone advise me what other way there is to get to Pamplona and then to St Jean. I plan to start walking on the 16th, and have made a reservation at Orisson that night. Many thanks for any suggestions.

 

P

PANO

Guest

• Sep 9, 2015

• #2

Bus-services: ALSA (https://www.alsa.es/en/), Monbus (http://www.monbus.cat/en/)
Flight: Unfortunately, Vueling has ceased to serve Pamplona and Iberia etc all fly BCN via MAD, just as long as the bus-ride and expensive.
Car-share: www.blablacar.es (Cheap if you can match timing, and you should speak at least some Spanish)
Car-Rental: make sense especially when you are several people.

Bonne chance

 

Julie H

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

September/October 2015

• Sep 9, 2015

• #3

PANO said:

Bus-services: ALSA (https://www.alsa.es/en/), Monbus (http://www.monbus.cat/en/)
Flight: Unfortunately, Vueling has ceased to serve Pamplona and Iberia etc all fly BCN via MAD, just as long as the bus-ride and expensive.
Car-share: www.blablacar.es (Cheap if you can match timing, and you should speak at least some Spanish)
Car-Rental: make sense especially when you are several people.

Bonne chance

Click to expand...

Many thanks PANO, I will investigate all of the above. The adventure begins.......Just a bit earlier than planned

 

Julie H

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

September/October 2015

• Sep 9, 2015

• #4

Managed to acquire a seat on a bus through ALSA. Thanks again PANO for that info.

 

N

Neil Thomas

New Member

• Sep 10, 2015

• #5

For anyone concerned. Legislation requires a large percentage of trains run during a rail strike. Simply look to the schedules. If your journey is scheduled, it runs. The indication on the RENFE site, if not running in the circumstances, is 'Tren no circula' or similar.

 

Josephina81

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Sep 2015 Astorga to Santaigo (CF) with my 10 yr old daughter

• Sep 10, 2015

• #6

Neil Thomas said:

For anyone concerned. Legislation requires a large percentage of trains run during a rail strike. Simply look to the schedules. If your journey is scheduled, it runs. The indication on the RENFE site, if not running in the circumstances, is 'Tren no circula' or similar.

Click to expand...

Thank you for this clarification! We are planning a train trip on the 15th, and it is scheduled, so I wasn't sure how that would work.

 

N

Neil Thomas

New Member

• Sep 11, 2015

• #7

Thanks for the thanks.

 

IngridF

Intrepid Peregrina

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2012, 2015 ,2017, 2019

• Sep 11, 2015

• #8

Neil Thomas said:

For anyone concerned. Legislation requires a large percentage of trains run during a rail strike. Simply look to the schedules. If your journey is scheduled, it runs. The indication on the RENFE site, if not running in the circumstances, is 'Tren no circula' or similar.

Click to expand...

Good to know..tx

 

Julie H

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

September/October 2015

• Sep 12, 2015

• #9

Good news for any one concerned I just got confirmation that the Renfe rail strike was called off as if Sept. 11. All good for rail travel again. I made alternate bus travel arrangements thanks to PANO's advice. And fly out tomorrow will be on the trail September 16, and am totally beside myself with excitement now...my bags are packed and I'm ready to go.....

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Sep 12, 2015

• #10

I would suggest anyone traveling in Western Europe to plan an extra day or two just in case of rail or bus strike, which can happen at any time.
Sometimes, you can team up with others and hire a taxi to get you to your destination.
But it's a lot more fun to just be flexible.

 

D

DDG

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2015

• Sep 12, 2015

• #11

Julie H said:

I just received notification about the coming rail strike September 11, 14 & 15. I was booked to be travelling from Barcelona to Pamplona on the 15th and this may now be disrupted. Can anyone advise me what other way there is to get to Pamplona and then to St Jean. I plan to start walking on the 16th, and have made a reservation at Orisson that night. Many thanks for any suggestions.

Click to expand...

Hi
We are also taking train from Barcelona to Pamplona that day. What time is your trip?
How are you getting from Pamplona to SJDP?
How did you make train reservations?
Thanks
Diana

 

Anniesantiago

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2006 to date: Over 21 Caminos. See signature line

• Sep 12, 2015

• #12

Also, Barcelona is a spectacular place to visit.
LOTS to see there!
You could just hang out there a few days until the strike has passed.

 

Caminofácil

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Francés (2014)

• Sep 12, 2015

• #13

Neil Thomas said:

For anyone concerned. Legislation requires a large percentage of trains run during a rail strike.

Click to expand...

The spanish expression for this is "servicios mínimos" (minimum services). Just in case you need to ask about your train.

 

Julie H

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

September/October 2015

• Sep 13, 2015

• #14

DDG said:

Hi
We are also taking train from Barcelona to Pamplona that day. What time is your trip?
How are you getting from Pamplona to SJDP?
How did you make train reservations?
Thanks
Diana

Click to expand...

Hi Diana, As it turned out I ended up booking a bus from Barcelona to Pamplona then on to SJPDP, (it connected beautifully,) as I was worried that the strike would make a mess of my reservation in Orisson on the night of the 16th. The options to SJPDP (from Pamplona) are the bus, service runs up to 5:30pm, and after that, a taxi, if you need to get there fast, but this is a bit pricey. Look back in this thread for PANO's advice on the bus. I used the ALSA bus company and was able to get seats easy. They say the rail strike is cancelled now, so it's still possible to book a train. (My original ticket was booked through LOCO.) Hope we can meet up somewhere that day. I will have both feet on the ground and be standing up right.....