Having trouble booking train from Santiago to Madrid Airport

[junie]

I am attempting to book my return train to Madrid from Santiago and cannot find a train. Need August 25, and Renfe has options UNTIL Aug 21, then no trains until after Aug 30. Any thoughts?

 

[VNwalking]

Maybe try another vendor?
I found results on Trainline.

 

[mustang2actual]

First I set up an account with Renfe a few days ago. Then last evening I setup my trains with the website Renfe.Com with a bit of issue. Had to contact my credit card company to let them know that these foreign transactions were normal. My iPad translated to English, and all went well. Chose SDC for departure station and Madrid Chamartin for arrival, then the second sort on the time. The tickets are in my Renfe account, plus they’re uploaded to my iPhone wallet.

 

[dougfitz]

I am attempting to book my return train to Madrid from Santiago and cannot find a train. Need August 25, and Renfe has options UNTIL Aug 21, then no trains until after Aug 30. Any thoughts?

This might be a timing issue. The RENFE site was showing services from Santiago to Madrid on 25 Aug a few minutes ago when I checked.

 

[John Sikora]

My experiences with Renfe are that they usually put up the schedules 30 days in advance but that this varies by a week or so. I haven't found any good pattern. Their website also has the problem of often refusing to talk to Visa so I end up using an American Express card account or Paypal. Be sure to set up an account, if you haven't already, it makes returns and rescheduling very very much easier.

 

[Tom Cartwright]

Maybe try another vendor?
I found results on Trainline.

I booked a train at the end of September, which frankly surprised me that far out. Could just be timing. I have a Renfe account and it was easy.

 

[Kathor1]

I am attempting to book my return train to Madrid from Santiago and cannot find a train. Need August 25, and Renfe has options UNTIL Aug 21, then no trains until after Aug 30. Any thoughts?

I have no explanation and can only advise to do what the Renfe websites says: Try again later.

At this moment in time, I see what you see: Fast trains from Santiago to Madrid are not on sale on the Renfe website for August 25 while they are on sale for dates that are weeks later such as for September 22. On Trainline, these trains are marked as sold out but that is misleading as it would say completo on Renfe in this case.

 

[J Willhaus]

My experiences with Renfe are that they usually put up the schedules 30 days in advance but that this varies by a week or so. I haven't found any good pattern. Their website also has the problem of often refusing to talk to Visa so I end up using an American Express card account or Paypal. Be sure to set up an account, if you haven't already, it makes returns and rescheduling very very much easier.

Yes, this summer I was able to get tickets about 2 months out for some routes and others only about 3 weeks out! I am sure there is a schedule to the ticket releases, but I have not figured it out yet...

I don't buy through Renfe except in person as the website doesn't take my credit card either. I go through Trainline as it recognizes my card and my Tarjeta Dorada discount.

 

[TravellingMan22]

I have no explanation and can only advise to do what the Renfe websites says: Try again later.

At this moment in time, I see what you see: Fast trains from Santiago to Madrid are not on sale on the Renfe website for August 25 while they are on sale for dates that are weeks later such as for September 22. On Trainline, these trains are marked as sold out but that is misleading as it would say completo on Renfe in this case.

View attachment 153518

Yes I just checked too and can see no logic to it!

 

[Kathor1]

The Renfe website's payment page asks for 2 step verification. If your credit card cannot handle this requirement you cannot use it. Credit cards issued in Spain or elsewhere in Europe don't have an issue with this.

 

[trecile]

The Renfe website's payment page asks for 2 step verification. If your credit card cannot handle this requirement you cannot use it. Credit cards issued in Spain or elsewhere in Europe don't have an issue with this.

When I ran into this issue with Renfe I used PayPal and had no problems.

 

[frannie z]

I had a tough time (March 2023) booking a train and ended up for $43 flying Ryan Air to Madrid. Easy. Just a thought.

 

[AnneMarie1]

Another solution to the payment issue is to use RENFE's app on your phone. The tickets "live" there, too, and you can just open them up for the QR code when you're boarding.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Maybe try another vendor?
I found results on Trainline.

I always use Trainline. It's in English, easy to navigate and always works well with my US credit cards.

 

[Erigojen]

I am attempting to book my return train to Madrid from Santiago and cannot find a train. Need August 25, and Renfe has options UNTIL Aug 21, then no trains until after Aug 30. Any thoughts?

You simply choose the train from santiago to madrid station CHAMARTIN and from there to take the "cercanias" directly to Madrid Airport - it takes less than 30 minutes and the the ticket from Santiago does normally also include the trip with the "cercanies". I did the same trip 2 weeks ago - from Santiago at approx 7 am and arrival at Chamartin 4 hours laters. - I wish you a pleasant journey - best regards from Erik "el vikingo de Dinamarca"

 

[Kathor1]

I have no explanation and can only advise to do what the Renfe websites says: Try again later.

@junie, in case you have not yet noticed it, we are 24 hours later and the prices for Santiago to Madrid on August 25, 2023 are now shown on the Renfe website; tickets for this date can be purchased. Buen Camino!

The note that you see when you click on the red triangles says that there are some changes in the usual trajectory, due to engineering works. This may have been the reason why it was temporarily not possible to purchase tickets yesterday.

 

[Henriettagal]

I am attempting to book my return train to Madrid from Santiago and cannot find a train. Need August 25, and Renfe has options UNTIL Aug 21, then no trains until after Aug 30. Any thoughts?

Check out the night bus from Santiago to the Madrid airport. It worked for me and I had no reservation.

 

[MirtaC]

I am attempting to book my return train to Madrid from Santiago and cannot find a train. Need August 25, and Renfe has options UNTIL Aug 21, then no trains until after Aug 30. Any thoughts?

Hi! Have you thought of flying to Madrid? I took Renfe from Madrid to Sarria and a flight from Santiago to Madrid. Hope this helps!

 

[Luka]

@junie, in case you have not yet noticed it, we are 24 hours later and the prices for Santiago to Madrid on August 25, 2023 are now shown on the Renfe website; tickets for this date can be purchased. Buen Camino!

The note that you see when you click on the red triangles says that there are some changes in the usual trajectory, due to engineering works. This may have been the reason why it was temporarily not possible to purchase tickets yesterday.

View attachment 153577

This. I have a trainticket for the 23rd of August from Santiago de Compostela to Zamora. I'll have to change trains in Ourense. Yesterday I had another look at my ticket (which I booked 2 months ago) and the scedule of the first train (Santiago - Ourense) had been changed. Apparantly there are now only buses in that period.

So it takes much more time now, which means I'll miss my connection in Ourense. No warning from Renfe at all. I filled out a complaint form yesterday on their website and am now awaiting their response.

 

[Luka]

Hi! Have you thought of flying to Madrid? I took Renfe from Madrid to Sarria and a flight from Santiago to Madrid. Hope this helps!

It a bit off-topic but I hope people have gotten a bit more considerate about taking (unnecessary) flights these days. On such short distances trains and buses are IMHO a much better alternative.

 

[junie]

Thank you everyone. Renfe updated its schedule a couple of days ago and I was able to find a train from Santiago to Chamartin, then will catch another for the airport.

 

[J Willhaus]

@junie,

If you bought a ticket there may be a free ride to the airport attached. There is a QR code with the ticket if it is an AVE train that you scan at the Cercanias entry point which allows a free ride to the airport. You don't need an additional ticket if you travel within 2 hours of your arrival at Chamartin. Not all turnstiles have the scanner. You need to scan both getting on and again when getting off at the airport toget out of the train area.

 

[junie]

@junie,

If you bought a ticket there may be a free ride to the airport attached. There is a QR code with the ticket if it is an AVE train that you scan at the Cercanias entry point which allows a free ride to the airport. You don't need an additional ticket if you travel within 2 hours of your arrival at Chamartin. Not all turnstiles have the scanner. You need to scan both getting on and again when getting off at the airport toget out of the train area.

Yep, I see that and thanks for the scanning info!