Should I wait - Trains schedules from Madrid to Santiago

[WildandFound]

Hi All! My first post!

I'm heading out to SJPP to hike the Frances route in August. I have 3 people joining me in O Cebreiro on September 22. I'm trying to get them situated and finally got them organized to book trains. I'm only seeing 4 options on September 21, however the week before there are many more. Basically trying to avoid taking a 7pm train, as they get in at 11 in the morning.

Should they be booking that last 7:00pm train on September 21 to secure a seat (others seem to be full), or should they wait a week with the expectation that more options will populate?

I've told them that they may want to book at a flexible rate so they can maybe switch if a train is added.

Any experienced advice would be super.

Thanks!
Erin

 

[Tincatinker]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Train from where to where? There’s definitely no railway station in O Cebreiro. Bus from Lugo to Predrafita maybe or a taxi from (?)

 

[WildandFound]

Hi, and welcome to the forum. Train from where to where? There’s definitely no railway station in O Cebreiro. Bus from Lugo to Predrafita maybe or a taxi from (?)

I'm looking at Madrid to Santiago de Compostela trains on September 21. They're taking a morning Alsa Bus to Pedrafita do Cebreiro on September 22.

Apologies if my question feels like a duplication of so many others. Just started to panic a bit when I realized trains were booked up. I don't want them to get squeezed out of train availability on the 21st.

Thanks!
Erin

 

[WildandFound]

They won't be booked up yet for that date - RENFE haven't started taking booking for those trains yet. You need to wait until closer to the date for the reservations to become available. Occasionally less than a month from the travel date. Notoriously unpredictable.

Okay. Thank you for this validation!

 

[andycohn]

I think you're misreading the schedule. If you go to the Renfe website, it says that there's a train at 7:18PM for that date, which arrives at 10:30 PM, i.e. not the following morning, It also says that other trains for that date are not available at this time -- meaning they will go on sale later: https://venta.renfe.com/vol/buscarTrenEnlaces.do?c=_N5Wg

If you're nervous about getting a ticket at all, you could spend an extra few euros per ticket and buy seats now that can be exchanged for others later (though the price per seat will probably be higher),.

 

[WildandFound]

I think you're misreading the schedule. If you go to the Renfe website, it says that there's a train at 7:18PM for that date, which arrives at 10:30 PM, i.e. not the following morning, It also says that other trains for that date are not available at this time -- meaning they will go on sale later: https://venta.renfe.com/vol/buscarTrenEnlaces.do?c=_N5Wg

If you're nervous about getting a ticket at all, you could spend an extra few euros per ticket and buy seats now that can be exchanged for others later (though the price per seat will probably be higher),.

Thank you! I've totally missed that. I'm not sure why I've not seen the page, with the other options with that note. Ugh. Sorry!!! (I'm Canadian, I apologize a lot!) That's a relief though. Thanks again!

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

Hi All! My first post!

I'm heading out to SJPP to hike the Frances route in August. I have 3 people joining me in O Cebreiro on September 22. I'm trying to get them situated and finally got them organized to book trains. I'm only seeing 4 options on September 21, however the week before there are many more. Basically trying to avoid taking a 7pm train, as they get in at 11 in the morning.

Should they be booking that last 7:00pm train on September 21 to secure a seat (others seem to be full), or should they wait a week with the expectation that more options will populate?

I've told them that they may want to book at a flexible rate so they can maybe switch if a train is added.

Any experienced advice would be super.

Thanks!
Erin

take the alsa from madrid to piedrafita, then taxi or walk up the hill. makes no sense to go all the way to santiago to take a bus back (+3 hours to piedrafita from santiago)

 

[CWBuff]

What he said

 

[WildandFound]

take the alsa from madrid to piedrafita, then taxi or walk up the hill. makes no sense to go all the way to santiago to take a bus back (+3 hours to piedrafita from santiago)

Haha. That’s the plan!

 

[WildandFound]

Haha. That’s the plan!

Oh. Haha. I misunderstood. They’re walking the final stages with me from O Cebreiro.. Thanks!

 

[CWBuff]

Yes. Take the bus to Puedrafita then TAXI UP THE HILL. (to O Cebreiro)

 

[Hans-Georg Goebel]

I'm looking at Madrid to Santiago de Compostela trains on September 21. They're taking a morning Alsa Bus to Pedrafita do Cebreiro on September 22.

Apologies if my question feels like a duplication of so many others. Just started to panic a bit when I realized trains were booked up. I don't want them to get squeezed out of train availability on the 21st.

Thanks!
Erin

really most trains on 21th 09 are full this was the only one you can book via trainline (now dont know what isin onehour)