Train from Madrid to Sarria

[Cfran_sg]

Hi, I’ll be travelling from Madrid Charmartin to Sarria next week to start my first Camino! Have already booked my train tickets on Renfe. According to the advisory on Renfe’s website, the journey from Ourense to Sarria on the MD train will be undertaken by bus due to infrastructure works on the rail line to Lugo. Has anyone done this transfer at Ourense recently? Is the transfer to the bus at the Ourense train station, or do I have to get to a bus stop to do that? According to my tickets, I have 20 mins do that the transfer! Any advice or info greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[henrythedog]

I haven’t done this specific one but in my experience when ‘rail replacement’ bus services are used in Spain the bus is usually right in front of the train station. The train manager will confirm that. Spanish train staffing is at a level which suggests it’s there to create employment.

 

[Bootsie]

Hi, I’ll be travelling from Madrid Charmartin to Sarria next week to start my first Camino! Have already booked my train tickets on Renfe. According to the advisory on Renfe’s website, the journey from Ourense to Sarria on the MD train will be undertaken by bus due to infrastructure works on the rail line to Lugo. Has anyone done this transfer at Ourense recently? Is the transfer to the bus at the Ourense train station, or do I have to get to a bus stop to do that? According to my tickets, I have 20 mins do that the transfer! Any advice or info greatly appreciated. Thanks

How did you reserve your tickets on Renee? Where is Madrid Charmattin? My sister and I are flying to Madrid on May 11th and we are looking to reserve train tickets from Madrid airport to Sarria. Thanks for your help. Dolores

 

[Tincatinker]

How did you reserve your tickets on Renee? Where is Madrid Charmattin? My sister and I are flying to Madrid on May 11th and we are looking to reserve train tickets from Madrid airport to Sarria. Thanks for your help. Dolores

Google Maps

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Renfe - Mi Más Renfe

PAGINAS OFICIALES DE RENFE, HORARIOS, RESERVA, VENTA, BILLETES, ALQUILER

venta.renfe.com

 

[henrythedog]

How did you reserve your tickets on Renee? Where is Madrid Charmattin? My sister and I are flying to Madrid on May 11th and we are looking to reserve train tickets from Madrid airport to Sarria. Thanks for your help. Dolores

Chamartin is the northern train station in Madrid. Most easily accessed by metro or Cercanias commuter train direct from the airport if you’re not overnighting in Madrid.

If you have the patience of a saint you can book train tickets direct online with RENFE (the Spanish national train operator) or you can take the slightly easier option, with an additional booking fee, of using Rail Europe amongst others.

Train tickets are not available more than three months in advance - often less. Rail Europe allows you to set an alert telling you when tickets come available. Do book in advance; it’s much cheaper.

(When you book a long distance train to or from Madrid the ticket comes with a 5-character code which should allow a complementary Cercanias trip. In 30 years of visiting Spain and speaking Spanish I’ve never managed to make that work. The fare is only about €3 though, so it doesn’t keep me awake worrying about it)

 

[Cfran_sg]

How did you reserve your tickets on Renee? Where is Madrid Charmattin? My sister and I are flying to Madrid on May 11th and we are looking to reserve train tickets from Madrid airport to Sarria. Thanks for your help. Dolores

I booked my tickets directly on the Renfe website. I heard some people may encounter problems paying with their non-Spanish credit card, but I had no problems with mine. You can also pay using PayPal.

 

[Wdemoss]

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

https://venta.renfe.com/vol/search.do?c=_4xBc[/URL

http://

 

[Wdemoss]

How did you reserve your tickets on Renee? Where is Madrid Charmattin? My sister and I are flying to Madrid on May 11th and we are looking to reserve train tickets from Madrid airport to Sarria. Thanks for your help. Dolores

You might like this resource:

 

[Bootsie]

Chamartin is the northern train station in Madrid. Most easily accessed by metro or Cercanias commuter train direct from the airport if you’re not overnighting in Madrid.

If you have the patience of a saint you can book train tickets direct online with RENFE (the Spanish national train operator) or you can take the slightly easier option, with an additional booking fee, of using Rail Europe amongst others.

Train tickets are not available more than three months in advance - often less. Rail Europe allows you to set an alert telling you when tickets come available. Do book in advance; it’s much cheaper.

(When you book a long distance train to or from Madrid the ticket comes with a 5-character code which should allow a complementary Cercanias trip. In 30 years of visiting Spain and speaking Spanish I’ve never managed to make that work. The fare is only about €3 though, so it doesn’t keep me awake worrying about it)

Thanks for the prompt and thorough response. Bootsie

 

[Mycroft]

Chamartin is the northern train station in Madrid. Most easily accessed by metro or Cercanias commuter train direct from the airport if you’re not overnighting in Madrid.

If you have the patience of a saint you can book train tickets direct online with RENFE (the Spanish national train operator) or you can take the slightly easier option, with an additional booking fee, of using Rail Europe amongst others.

Train tickets are not available more than three months in advance - often less. Rail Europe allows you to set an alert telling you when tickets come available. Do book in advance; it’s much cheaper.

(When you book a long distance train to or from Madrid the ticket comes with a 5-character code which should allow a complementary Cercanias trip. In 30 years of visiting Spain and speaking Spanish I’ve never managed to make that work. The fare is only about €3 though, so it doesn’t keep me awake worrying about it)

Patience is right! I have tried for months to use Renfe to get a ticket from Madrid to Ponferrada, and it kept saying the schedule wasn't up yet. This was even within the 3 months. I tried something else someone suggested and finally a schedule appeared. Now I am trying to figure out airport to Chamartin, and noticed you mention the 5 digit code and complimentary Cercanias trips. Where might I read more about this? I haven't yet found anything on the Renfe website....

 

[henrythedog]

Patience is right! I have tried for months to use Renfe to get a ticket from Madrid to Ponferrada, and it kept saying the schedule wasn't up yet. This was even within the 3 months. I tried something else someone suggested and finally a schedule appeared. Now I am trying to figure out airport to Charmartin, and noticed you mention the 5 digit code and complimentary Cercanias trips. Where might I read more about this? I haven't yet found anything on the Renfe website....

I’ve never figured it out either; but on your ticket to Madrid there will be a five digit code. Somehow one goes to the ticket machine in Atocha or Chamartin and using the code obtains a complimentary Cercanias ticket.

This may explain:

Combinado Cercanías: get the most out of your free transfer

The Combinado Cercanías is a free transfer on suburban trains and trams that Renfe, the Spanish rail operator, offers. Benefit from yours!

www.spain-traveller.com

 

[El Cascayal]

Patience is right! I have tried for months to use Renfe to get a ticket from Madrid to Ponferrada, and it kept saying the schedule wasn't up yet. This was even within the 3 months. I tried something else someone suggested and finally a schedule appeared. Now I am trying to figure out airport to Chamartin, and noticed you mention the 5 digit code and complimentary Cercanias trips. Where might I read more about this? I haven't yet found anything on the Renfe website....

@Mycroft, what was the suggestion? How did you get the schedule to appear? I am less than 42d away and can't find any morning trains from Chamartin to Leon.

 

[henrythedog]

@Mycroft, what was the suggestion? How did you get the schedule to appear? I am less than 42d away and can't find any morning trains from Chamartin to Leon.

Whilst it may not solve your current problem if you search on ‘Trainline’ or ‘Rail Europe’ (I forget which) you can set an alert for when your desired train goes on sale. You don’t have to buy it from them. I use Rail Europe, for no particular reason.

To understand the workings of the RENFE system you’ll need a closer connection to the Almighty than I’ve got.

Morning trains on that route only currently listed up to Monday 12 September.

 

[Mycroft]

I’ve never figured it out either; but on your ticket to Madrid there will be a five digit code. Somehow one goes to the ticket machine in Atocha or Chamartin and using the code obtains a complimentary Cercanias ticket.

This may explain:

Combinado Cercanías: get the most out of your free transfer

The Combinado Cercanías is a free transfer on suburban trains and trams that Renfe, the Spanish rail operator, offers. Benefit from yours!

www.spain-traveller.com

Helpful. Thanks.
Also some info on seat61.
Not sure where the rail/metro station is at the airport but it must be sign posted.

 

[Mycroft]

@Mycroft, what was the suggestion? How did you get the schedule to appear? I am less than 42d away and can't find any morning trains from Chamartin to Leon.

I wish I knew! I just kept fiddling round with the website so not sure what I did. I do know however that there is more below what appears on my laptop screen. One thing I recall is after I put in the start point and the arrival location, I had to click again in the destination box for the rest of the page to show. Be sure to tick Accept Cookies.

 

[El Cascayal]

Morning trains on that route only currently listed up to Monday 12 September.

Yes, and it’s maddening. ALSA also has a similar system where bus trips that had previously existed in abundance ie: Leon to Vigo for Oct 4, magically disappear and direct inquiry email to them generated the response “still too early” meanwhile days further ahead have posted schedules. Go figure. The magic formula eludes me.

 

[fatcontroller]

Hi, I’ll be travelling from Madrid Charmartin to Sarria next week to start my first Camino! Have already booked my train tickets on Renfe. According to the advisory on Renfe’s website, the journey from Ourense to Sarria on the MD train will be undertaken by bus due to infrastructure works on the rail line to Lugo. Has anyone done this transfer at Ourense recently? Is the transfer to the bus at the Ourense train station, or do I have to get to a bus stop to do that? According to my tickets, I have 20 mins do that the transfer! Any advice or info greatly appreciated. Thanks

I travelled this May to Sarria from Uk with friends, we flew direct to Santiago from Stansted and then got a taxi (1hr) to Sarria, but there were 3 of us to share the cost of the taxi which was €120. There are also flights from Gatwick to Santiago. Ryanair
Fly from Stansted and Easyjet from Gatwick.

 

[EllaT]

Hi, I’ll be travelling from Madrid Charmartin to Sarria next week to start my first Camino! Have already booked my train tickets on Renfe. According to the advisory on Renfe’s website, the journey from Ourense to Sarria on the MD train will be undertaken by bus due to infrastructure works on the rail line to Lugo. Has anyone done this transfer at Ourense recently? Is the transfer to the bus at the Ourense train station, or do I have to get to a bus stop to do that? According to my tickets, I have 20 mins do that the transfer! Any advice or info greatly appreciated. Thanks

Based on my recent experience on August 20, 2024, the transfer in Ourense from train to bus was smooth, with buses conveniently waiting just outside the train. The entire process took about 5-7 minutes.

The train departed from Chamartín station at 1:15 PM and was supposed to be a direct route to Sarria, arriving at 5:53 PM. However, due to ongoing construction, the train only went as far as Ourense, where we transferred to buses for the rest of the journey. From this experience, it appears there is currently no direct train from Madrid to Sarria, requiring a bus transfer from Ourense to either Sarria or Lugo, depending on your destination.

A few side notes: Arriving at Chamartín station 30 to 40 minutes before departure should be sufficient, as the station is relatively small, and the security line only took about a minute. Additionally, when purchasing tickets in advance on the Renfe website (https://www.renfe.com/es/en), we ordered food, but I found it wasn’t worth it. You can easily buy food and drinks directly from the dining car, located at the front of the train.