Committing... and transport query?

[Precentrix]

So for some context...

I started the Camino Frances from St Jean waaaay back in August 2016, and walked to Burgos. In spring of 2018, I did the stretch from Burgos to Leon. It was April, and all indications would have been 'expect weather similar to the UK'. I mercifully checked the forecast - because it randomly snowed for the first couple of days and a couple of folks were caught out walking in shorts and t-shirts. A bit different to the predicted scorching heat of the Meseta, but I'm glad I didn't try that stretch in summer either!

At the time I toyed with whether or not to take the Salvador. Reading some of your reports, having looked at some reassuring photographs of the mountain paths on Gronze (my parents went on an over-60s walking tour in Eastern Europe and my dad's feet literally didn't fit on the path), and not caring particularly if I reach the cathedral in Compostella in just under three weeks or if I come back another time to finish, but definitely caring about avoiding the crowds likely to be on the Frances this year... I'm going to bite the bullet, take the Salvador in August and join the Camino Primitivo after that.

So... here's a question:

I'm flying into Madrid for logistical reasons which include living on a small rock. I've looked for direct trains and buses from Madrid to Leon, for the beginning of August, and they're all showing up as fully booked. When I checked one of the sites, it did indicate that tickets were only actually released by RENFE maybe a month in advance. Does anyone know if this is the case of if I need to hurry and book those indirect tickets via Valladolid?

Even if I were walking the Frances I'd want to get to Leon since that was my last stop (I think it was technically Reliegos).

Thanks

 

[trecile]

When I checked one of the sites, it did indicate that tickets were only actually released by RENFE maybe a month in advance

This is the reason you can't book the train right now. I would start checking every week though, because there doesn't seem to be a hard and fast rule as to how much in advance they are released.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Some trains seem to be available for booking on RENFE but others aren't. I picked a random day in August and the evening train was available to book but not the morning ones. It didn't say full - it said this train is not available to book at this time.

 

[BarbaraW]

Renfe is notorious for releasing tickets late and erratically. For details, and good information about train travel in Spain (and everywhere else) see https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-spain.htm. The site is run by a rail enthusiast and has proved reliable for my last 15 years of travelling all over Europe.

 

[henrythedog]

They’re only currently fully released up to about the 20th of July which is ‘normal for RENFE’

 

[Precentrix]

Thanks all,

I thought this was likely the case but I wasn't sure since the sites are all different (and the RENFE site itself is even worse than the SNCF one, as we all know - it won't even let me enter a date other than today!).

 

[jsalt]

You can also get an Alsa bus direct from Madrid airport to Leon, which is bookable now.

 

[BarbaraW]

Suggest you use the booking sites recommended on Seat 61. Even for experienced train bookers Renfe can be tricky to use.

 

[Precentrix]

I'm more likely to use Bahn.de to find out when the trains run (and all the possible connections that the local country's website doesn't list) and then book through Trainline just for ease and because I already have the app. The Bahn.de trick is really useful for French trains since the SNCF doesn't always show you all options, just what they think is reasonable. So, for example, I already know two possible options with changes of train, which RENFE doesn't list at all.

 

[TravellingMan22]

I'm more likely to use Bahn.de to find out when the trains run (and all the possible connections that the local country's website doesn't list) and then book through Trainline just for ease and because I already have the app. The Bahn.de trick is really useful for French trains since the SNCF doesn't always show you all options, just what they think is reasonable. So, for example, I already know two possible options with changes of train, which RENFE doesn't list at all.

Agreed. I think Bahn.de is generally regarded as Europes best operator site for train schedules across Europe, and then ‘drill down’ where possible as seat61 advises.