Help with Train from Vigo to Lisbon

[laurenligreci]

Hi Friends! Lauren here We are having a blast on our Camino, just reached Baiona yesterday.

I need help. I’ve tried countless times to book the train from Vigo to Lisbon on June 24th and cannot get it booked. I’ve booked the first part of the ticket from Santiago to Vigo (Guixar). But the cp.pt tickets show a train from Vigo Guixar to Lisbon Oriente at 8:58am, that has to be booked through Renfe, but then Renfe doesn’t even have Lisbon as an available destination. I am doing something very wrong and I really need help.

This is the train I want, as you know it’s really 2 trains … see the screen shot attached where CP.pt directs me to Renfe. I’ve used both the Renfe app and the website and neither have Lisbon (any of the stations there!!) as a destination. I am doing something wrong, I know it.

A sincere thank you in advance for your help. Bus is not an option, I have severe motion sickness.

 

[jungleboy]

This is the train I want, as you know it’s really 2 trains … see the screen shot attached where CP.pt directs me to Renfe. I’ve used both the Renfe app and the website and neither have Lisbon (any of the stations there!!) as a destination. I am doing something wrong, I know it.

The answer is in the bold! It looks like you can only buy the Vigo-Porto leg on Renfe and then separately Porto-Lisbon on CP.

 

[laurenligreci]

The answer is in the bold! It looks like you can only buy the Vigo-Porto leg on Renfe and then separately Porto-Lisbon on CP.

Oh Lord, I never even considered that. I’ve spent months trying to book this stupid ticket. Praying it’s not sold out. Many thanks.

 

[Former member 22438]

The train from Vigo to Porto is a local train served by Comboios de Portugal ( CP) with many stations.
If you held your hand up, it stops .
You can buy your ticket onboard.

From Porto Campanhã station goes the so called Alfa Pendular train to Lisbon , the high speed train.
You can buy your ticket online at their website CP.pt

 

[laurenligreci]

The train from Vigo to Porto is a local train served by Comboios de Portugal ( CP) with many stations.
If you held your hand up, it stops .
You can buy your ticket onboard.

From Porto Campanhã station goes the so called Alfa Pendular train to Lisbon , the high speed train.
You can buy your ticket online at their website CP.pt

Ahhhh thank you so much! So from Vigo Guixar to Porto Campanha I won’t need to buy in advance? I can just show up? Good because the website for Renfe sucks and I’ve been trying to book since I got that first message above and it’s error after error. Many thanks!

 

[Corned Beef]

Have you downloaded the apps for Renfe and for CP. Much easier to use.

I can just show up

There will also be (multi-language) ticket machines at the station too as an alternative to the ticket office (if there is one)

 

[Former member 22438]

Ahhhh thank you so much! So from Vigo Guixar to Porto Campanha I won’t need to buy in advance? I can just show up? Good because the website for Renfe sucks and I’ve been trying to book since I got that first message above and it’s error after error. Many thanks!

Nope ! Just get in and pay the ( in Dutch we say ) the conducteur.
If you are over 65 , ask for a ticket “ terceira idade” and you get your reduced rate

It is a nice journey. I did not do the Vigo to Valença part in Spain but many times travelled from Porto to Valença , a nice ride many times you will see the Caminho in the beginning the ride along the Ecopista path to Caminha. Then the coastal to Viana do Castelo and then from Tamel to Barcelos the central route .

The Alfa Pendular in Portugal I never used
I always drove by car during the almost 50 years I come to Portugal regulairy.

Bom Caminho

 

[Former member 22438]

Have you downloaded the apps for Renfe and for CP. Much easier to use.



There will also be (multi-language) ticket machines at the station too as an alternative to the ticket office (if there is one)

My experience is that these machines are far too complicated. For me it is not the Portuguese language because I speak fluently (Brasilian) Portuguese but the machine with touchscreens and knobs is not easy.
If you want to buy a ticket at a machine and see a guy with a backpack ( with a tag on the back of this forum) and the big queu of impacient locals behind , probably it is me

 

[laurenligreci]

Have you downloaded the apps for Renfe and for CP. Much easier to use.



There will also be (multi-language) ticket machines at the station too as an alternative to the ticket office (if there is one)

I have downloaded the app for Renfe and I keep getting errors when I try to create my account. I might ask someone at my hotel if they can help but I always feel like an idiot.

 

[laurenligreci]

My experience is that these machines are far too complicated. For me it is not the Portuguese language because I speak fluently (Brasilian) Portuguese but the machine with touchscreens and knobs is not easy.
If you want to buy a ticket at a machine and see a guy with a backpack ( with a tag on the back of this forum) and the big queu of impacient locals behind , probably it is me

Ahhh! Will you be there on the 24th? That would be funny. I will probably just cry in front of the machine, I can picture it now lol

 

[trecile]

I have downloaded the app for Renfe and I keep getting errors when I try to create my account. I might ask someone at my hotel if they can help but I always feel like an idiot.

Try using a third party site/app like TrainLine instead. Much more user friendly.

 

[laurenligreci]

Try using a third party site/app like TrainLine instead. Much more user friendly.

Oh interesting. I tried train line and have that booked for the Santiago to Vigo section. I didn’t realize I could for the Vigo to Porto section too. I will look into it, thank you!

 

[702Jenn]

Hi Friends! Lauren here We are having a blast on our Camino, just reached Baiona yesterday.

I need help. I’ve tried countless times to book the train from Vigo to Lisbon on June 24th and cannot get it booked. I’ve booked the first part of the ticket from Santiago to Vigo (Guixar). But the cp.pt tickets show a train from Vigo Guixar to Lisbon Oriente at 8:58am, that has to be booked through Renfe, but then Renfe doesn’t even have Lisbon as an available destination. I am doing something very wrong and I really need help.

This is the train I want, as you know it’s really 2 trains … see the screen shot attached where CP.pt directs me to Renfe. I’ve used both the Renfe app and the website and neither have Lisbon (any of the stations there!!) as a destination. I am doing something wrong, I know it.

A sincere thank you in advance for your help. Bus is not an option, I have severe motion sickness.

View attachment 172217

Just as an aside, when I was in Vigo last summer, there was a tourist office in the Centro Pricipi area. The lady there spoke English, was super helpful, and gave me great directions on how to get to the buses.

 

[laurenligreci]

Just as an aside, when I was in Vigo last summer, there was a tourist office in the Centro Pricipi area. The lady there spoke English, was super helpful, and gave me great directions on how to get to the buses.

Oh amazing, thank you!!

 

[laurenligreci]

Try using a third party site/app like TrainLine instead. Much more user friendly.

Thanks Trecile, just booked this. I appreciate all your help always!

 

[Amachant]

Try using a third party site/app like TrainLine instead. Much more user friendly.

I have three different apps for online train purchases. Renfe is the fourth and the worse. I get the best bang for my bucks with Trainline.
Buen Camino

 

[Steven Dwyer]

The train from Vigo to Porto is a local train served by Comboios de Portugal ( CP) with many stations.
If you held your hand up, it stops .
You can buy your ticket onboard.

From Porto Campanhã station goes the so called Alfa Pendular train to Lisbon , the high speed train.

The train between Vigo and Porto is the Tren Celta and is operated by Renfe and not Comboios de Portugal. There are only two runs per day in each direction and only 4 scheduled stops. Over the last year, there have been some weeks where the train service between Vigo and Valença has been replaced by bus service, and has run a bit behind schedule.

 

[Former member 22438]

In Spain the railway tracks are wider than in France or Portugal
That is the reason that you take the RENFE train from Santiago to Vigo Sainz station.
To change for the CP train with smaller width you have to go to the Vigo Guixar station, about 10 minutes walk from Sainz.
For that reason there is no direct rail connection between Santiago and Lisbon
You always have to change somewhere.

You also can take the bus to Porto or Lisbon
Buses leave the backside of the Santiago railwaystation ALSA is one of the companies that have several connections daily with Porto airport, Porto center and Lisbon.

 

[Former member 22438]

The train between Vigo and Porto is the Tren Celta and is operated by Renfe and not Comboios de Portugal. There are only two runs per day in each direction and only 4 scheduled stops. Over the last year, there have been some weeks where the train service between Vigo and Valença has been replaced by bus service, and has run a bit behind schedule.

The Celta train is a train connection from the Portuguese railway operator Comboios de Portugal and the Spanish railway operator Renfe Operadora between Campanhã railway station in Porto (Portugal) and Vigo-Guixar railway station in Vigo (Spain). It became the only international rail service between Portugal and Spain