Trains blocked on June 17 and 18????

[peregrina2000]

I have been trying to purchase some train tickets, and have tried using Raileurope, Petrabax, and even the RENFE site itself. Based on what I can see, all trains for June 17 and 18 come up with the indication "tren bloqueado."

Does anyone know what's going on? Is there a strike planned perhaps? Or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I can find trains both those days from Pamplona to Sevilla. It may be your browser or you!

 

[peregrina2000]

Hmm, thanks, Falcon.
Which website are you using? I can find trains for days before the 17th or 18th for the Santiago-Madrid route (and for a few others I put in just to try) on all three websites, but nothing on the 17th or 18th. And I can't find anything for Pamplona-Sevilla at all, so I am totally confused.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

http://www.renfe.com

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Destino: MADRID (*)

Trenes para el día: Lunes 18 Junio 2012




Seleccionar trenes del trayecto inverso


Tren / Recorrido Salida Llegada Duración Precios Prestaciones Accesible
00152 TALGO 14.47 21.08 6 h. 21 min. Consultar y comprar Ver Ver
00852 TRENHOTEL 22.33 08.02 9 h. 29 min. Consultar y comprar Ver

 

[Tia Valeria]

Is this like the ALSA site. The times can be viewed but booking more than 60 days ahead doesn't work.
Does the site work if you initiate an earlier booking - without actually getting to the point of paying?
Buen Camino

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks again -- Falcon, I think you are looking at the "horarios y precios" instead of at "comprar billetes." I can find the schedules for the trains in the first section, but when I go to try to buy them it says "tren bloqueado."

Valeria, you're right that the tickets can't be purchased more than 60 days in advance (sometimes it's 61 or 62, but never more). I've been trying to see what's available for 60 days from now though and nothing seems to be for sale. Weird. I called petrabax, one of the broker sites, and they didn't know.

Ah well -- I'll keep trying -- and one more thing that I've learned. Raileurope.com charges $18 per ticket service fee. Petrabax.com is much lower (I think it was alipilgrim who told us about that site).

Thanks, buen camino!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Try in a week. Nothing appears for sale after June 16 for me either.

 

[peregrina2000]

Just an update to say that there are still no train tickets available for purchase from Santiago to Madrid after June 17. Since today is May 3, the cheap web fare tickets should be available for July 3, but the same message appears: "tren bloqueado."

This is not a problem for trains all over the country; it appears to be just for some specific lines.

Someone suggested to me that this may mean that RENFE is re-evaluating either fare structure or schedules, but I guess we´ll just have to wait and see.

If anyone has luck buying on this route, a post would be appreciated! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[peregrina2000]

Some of the trains, specifically the trenhotel from Santiago to Madrid, have been unblocked, and cheap fares are once again available two months out. Unfortunately, I wasn't checking often enough, and I missed the cheap fares. So I guess I'll wait to buy it in Madrid when I arrive and can use the old folks discount.

But some of the summer trains are still blocked, it looks like the other, daytime, train from Santiago to Madrid is still blocked, but it is still showing on the schedule. It's just that you can't buy tickets for it yet.

Never a dull moment with RENFE.