Has anyone made a connection between Madrid’s Chamartin and Atocha train stations recently using the Cercanias local train service that runs between these two stations? In a few months, we will be travelling from Santiago de Compostela to Toledo (via Madrid) on a Wednesday and wanted to find out if the connection can be done in less than an hour. The Alvia train from Santiago arrives at Madrid Chamartin Station at 14:56 p.m. and Avant trains to Toledo depart from Madrid Atocha Station hourly at :50 past the hour. I’m wondering if we should try to catch the 15:50 p.m. train or take the next one. We hope to buy our train tickets in advance, online if we can or while we’re in Santiago, in order to save time in Madrid, but we also need to consider how much time it takes to get from station to station, find the departing train’s platform, and go through scanning/security check, if necessary. After three nights in Toledo, we will be going by train to Sevilla (via Madrid), taking a day trip to Cordoba (by train), busing it to Granada for a 2-day visit then flying to Barcelona. Thanks in advance for your advice fellow travelers!
Posted by
Brisbane, Australia
7175 posts
The time listed by Cercania for the journey Chamartin-Atocha is 14 mins.
I would add an hour for any possible delay on your arrival, and another hour to checkin for the Toledo service.
I would go 17:50 over 16:50 even - definitely not 15:50.
Posted by
Spain
162 posts
Yes, I finally found out about the cercanias! I have been using Renfe for two months and just learned about it a few days ago. The fare is included in your fare. You should be fine with the connection. The trains run fairly close together. You don't have to go through security again. It does take a while to go from one platform to another.
3 nights in Toledo is a lot, you might want to take one night from Toledo and add it to Cordoba, I would stay overnight in Cordoba. It is easier and probably cheaper to go: Toledo - Madrid - Cordoba, Cordoba-Seville, Seville-Madrid. Think about it. I just did it last week. Your above plan is going back and forth, back and forth, unless you have a reason. You could fly from Seville to Barcelona, or not :)
Posted by
Oak Park, Illinois
4535 posts
As long as your train into Madrid is on time, you'll have time for the connection. It's a bit tight though. The ride is 15 minutes. There could be a 15 minute wait. You'll need 10-5 minutes walking time depending on locations of your platforms. "Security" is just sending your bags through a scanner, nothing at all like airports. AVE doors close a few minutes prior to departure.
You have two dilemmas: If you pre-purchase and miss your train, you lose the value of the ticket. If you wait to buy your Toledo ticket once you arrive - the ticket lines can be quite long. I personally would opt for the less risky later train option. Then just enjoy a snack and/or the turtles.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you all for your suggestions! Taking a later train to Toledo looks like the best option for us.