Train from Santiago to madrid

frank john said:

Hello. I’m trying to get my one way train ticket to Madrid from Santiago in late November. In your experience, what is the earliest one can purchase a ticket on Renfe or timeline ? Thanks. Frank

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It’ll be ‘Trainline’ and it’s unpredictable. I wouldn’t even look more than six weeks ahead and wouldn’t be concerned if the trains were not available four weeks ahead. They will be listed at the same time on both platforms, and Rail Europe. You’ll not miss out if you keep an eye on those two and no amount of ‘what’s going on?’ will speed the process up.

Don’t go for an advance purchase option like Rail Ninja even if they promise a reservation on a not-yet-released train.

Yes, this line has been the source of a lot of complaining by pilgrims and residents of Spain alike in the last 18 months or so! They release the tickets with short lead times. This causes consternation for all! In addition, I was reading last week in the newspaper that the new super high-speed train on this line was late 90% of the time so not really that high speed I guess. In any case, you can also fly back or take a bus. Not my first choice as I do love to watch the countryside flash by on the high speed train.

Hi, I would suggest you to take a plane, it much faster and also cheaper than train. On Omio you can find flights from 21 Euro.

Jopo said:

Hi, I would suggest you to take a plane, it much faster and also cheaper than train. On Omio you can find flights from 21 Euro.

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Perhaps but there is no way that I would be dealing with the whole "airport security" thingy and the logistics of getting from one downtown to the other one (provided that that's the idea) no matter how cheap the tix are. (and to be fair I also do not think that those starting fare apply - chances are you will have something extra.... maybe your backpack needs to be checked in, maybe you want a better seat....)... The when you factor the time you have to put in just to be in the A\P "X-number of hours before your flight...

I for one loved sitting in a clean comfy train car with nice wide seats and being offered refreshments and sandwiches by the food cart server. And of course nothing can beat the view.... Them 4.5 hours went very fast....

To the OP's question the rule of the thumb is that the train tickets become available roughly 1 month prior to the travel date.
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Good luck and Buen Camino.