Travelling from Madrid to Ponferrada by train

[Diane Kinney]

I am planning to make my second Camino in Sept 2015 with a group of colleagues. We have very limited time and decided we can walk from Ponferrada. We will be arriving in Madrid and plan to take the train but I have not yet been able to get information from Renfe. Does anyone know if there is a daily train to Ponferrada?
My second question is can you recommend any allergues that are not to be missed from Ponferrada to Santiago. I would especially like recommendations for Sarria and Portomarin.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Currently there are three trains and a trenhotel each day. You can expect the schedule to continue, but you will not be able to buy tickets until closer to your travel date, probably in June.

 

[MomtoKatenRose]

Please recheck for your specific dates
Renefe Train- Madrid to Ponferrada
http://www.renfe.com
ticket price goes up as you get closer to departure date

04405 Intercity lvs 10.30a arrv 15.05 (3.05p) 4 h 35 min
04471 Intercity lvs 17.05 (5.05p) arrv 21.44 (9.44p) 4h 39
the third option is not as constant

Chamartin Train Station
North of Madrid, a few minutes walk north of Paseo de la Castellana It is on Line 10 of the Metro.
Chamartín is 6km from the airport.
Calle de Agustín de Foxá, 28036 Madrid (M)
tel: +34 902 24 02 02.


A couple of additions if interested:
Only stayed at one albergues so not qualified to comment, but should you look for non-albergue meals:
Lunch or Dinner - Thank you to the pilgrim who introduced us to La Fonda -
Spanish Family owned restaurant - up the stairs.
Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 10, 24401 Ponferrada, +34 987 42 57 94

In Portomarin - when we asked a local for dinner recommendation we were told only one place to recommend and O Mirador was a great meal. (Though an albergue as well.... we only ate at the restaurant).

In Sarria - the much talked about Matías Locanda Italiana on Rua Maior, 4 really deserves its terrific reputation. https://www.google.com/url?sa=D&oi=...3047e08875e9f5:0x94e16052ea9ce4ef?gl=US&hl=en