Train from Santiago to Madrid

[The Anacortesians]

When we finished our Camino in May 2016 we booked the train from Santiago to Madrid. The train ran about an hour or so and stopped to transfer all passengers to busses then a couple hours on a bus and back on the train before getting to Madrid.

Does anyone know if the train system between Santiago and Madrid has been completed? We’re planning on a Portuguese Camino in 2019 and may fly into Lisbon and out of Madrid and would like to use the trains in country.

Thanks

 

[alexwalker]

I took the train from Madrid to SdC in March this year. 5 hours. No bussing.

 

[Sparrow in Texas]

I took the train all the way from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid on May 20, 2016. There was not an issue of the "system needing to be completed." Sometimes there is maintenance work being done or oddly timed or located rail strikes. You should be fine in 2019.

 

[SYates]

A friend took the train from Santiago to Madrid just a few weeks ago - no bussing involved ;-)

BC SY

 

[ranthr]

Train all the way in June 2018 too.

 

[Caminolou]

You need to get to the trainstation in Santiago. I think it was line 5 from the bus stop in Santiago center. It will say so on the sign

 

[irishrock]

In the summer, I'd book the train ticket ahead of time. In 2017, I got into Monte de Gozo at 1:00 and then decided to run to the train station and book a ticket for two days later from Santiago to Madrid. Booked on most days. I had to book a train to Leon, and then a different train from Leon to Madrid. It was a hassle and it was a long day of around 9 hours because of stops. There has to be a better way than the way I did it.

 

[trecile]

I also took the train from Santiago to Madrid in September 2016

 

[Suzanne S.]

I took that train ride in June of 2015. Must have been maintenance issues in 2016.

 

[Suzanne S.]

Also, the train station is no more than a 30 minute walk from the cathedral, as I remember it.

 

[Alan Pearce]

I had to renew my Australian passport in Madrid last year [I won't go into why, as it is too embarrassing]. I could not fly without my passport so took the train, and did the SdC/Madrid/SdC round trip in the one day - no changes either way.

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[Sparrow in Texas]

Perhaps someone in Spain can offer more information. This is just my perspective from the USA. The OP was suggesting that the rail system was incomplete between SdC and Madrid in 2016 to explain why they had to leave the train and take a bus for part of the trip. Because I rode the train a week before they did I knew that this could not be true. I vaguely remember mention of rail strikes during that time. My impression and from limited internet research is that various rail strikes can be called to last only a day or two, announced in advance but that only some, not all, service will be interrupted. The point being that the, as each of you have reiterated, the OP need not be concerned about not being able to use the trains. From the standpoint of a foreigner, this is just one of the "cultural quirks" that we learn about Spain. True?

 

[SYates]

No, not really. Strikes and repairs (another possible explanation for the bus service) can happen in any country in the world ;-)

Buen Camino, SY

 

[John Crawford Howell]

At first, I thought the need for a "bus-around" in 2016 was due to the train accident that killed 80 people southwest of Santiago, but that was in July of 2013.

From Santiago I took the train not to Madrid, but to Paris which was an unusual experience in itself...

 

[Larry OHeron]

When we finished our Camino in May 2016 we booked the train from Santiago to Madrid. The train ran about an hour or so and stopped to transfer all passengers to busses then a couple hours on a bus and back on the train before getting to Madrid.

Does anyone know if the train system between Santiago and Madrid has been completed? We’re planning on a Portuguese Camino in 2019 and may fly into Lisbon and out of Madrid and would like to use the trains in country.

Thanks

If you are going straight to the airport, the bus from Santiago goes there. Only one transfer in Madrid, and the buses are side-by-side so very straightforward. It 's longer and overnight but I used it the last time without any issues.

 

[John Crawford Howell]

I love Spain.

 

[Raymond]

Hi , I took the 7:48 from Santiago to Madrid on 18 September last with no problems. Arrived in Madrid-Chamartin at 13:10. I did notice quite a bit of work upgrading the line after Ourense.

 

[JamesGeier]

I traveled by train from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid and back late October, 2017. Had to change trains at Ourense, a very easy few steps across the platform. The trip from Madrid back to SdC was the same, with an easy change in Ourense. The locomotives used from Santiago to Ourense were diesel-powered. We changed trains at Ourense, and it seemed the same - no overhead electric lines, and a very mountainous ride from Ourense to Zamora. As we approached Zamora, I noticed overhead electric lines, and when we stopped, I watched the diesel-powered locomotives "become" electric-powered, by raising the connectors to the overhead electric lines. These were dual-mode locomotives, diesel to Zamora, electric to Madrid. After Zamora, the train speed was noticeably faster.

My feet enjoyed the break from walking...the train ride was a nice break after walking the Camino Frances.

Buen Camino,

--jim--

 

[Saint Mike II]

When we finished our Camino in May 2016 we booked the train from Santiago to Madrid. The train ran about an hour or so and stopped to transfer all passengers to busses then a couple hours on a bus and back on the train before getting to Madrid.

Does anyone know if the train system between Santiago and Madrid has been completed? We’re planning on a Portuguese Camino in 2019 and may fly into Lisbon and out of Madrid and would like to use the trains in country.

Thanks

That may have been for one of two reasons - track work or industrial issues. I have travelled this route twice - 2015 & 2017. In 2015 it was a straight through service (I think it was a 9.25 am departure. I 2017 it was an earlier train (around 8.30 am - different time of year no 9.25 service) and we changed trains around Zamora, but it was straight on to another train and with Spanish efficiency we just went to the same carriage number and same seats. If your Spanish is up to it have a look at the RENFE web site for info on track upgrades etc. I recall there was AVE (the Spanish equivalent of a TGV) track-work going on as we passed in 2017. Cheers

 

[Devereaux]

Took the 9:30 AM to Madrid-Chamartin from Santiago on Oct 27th this fall.
I had one transfer at Ourense which was a snap.
5 hours total.
Then took the commuter train to from Chamartin to Madrid-Barajas Airport.
Easy and fast.