We are taking a night train leaving San Sebastian at 10 pm on a Friday. We arrive in Medina del Campo at 3:52 am Saturday morning & have to change trains to get to Madrid. Since we have to change trains will this use 2 days of our rail pass? I can't find any other direct train to Madrid unless we go in the day time.
Posted by
OP
Dreaming of my next trip to Europe
273 posts
That doesn't sound too great! I guess we will have to travel during the day as there ar 2 trains from Irun to Madrid, one the morning & one in the afternoon that require no changing of trains. Thanks for the advice!!!
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Ambrosia...as I mentioned, double check with RENFE. And consider taking the train from Balboa during the evening....it'll give you a bit more time in the north. It DOES have first class seating, and a sit-down restaurant car.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
If you don't have a consecutive day pass, then the 7 o'clock rule should apply to you. You'll start the first leg of your journey after 7 pm and finish it the next day, so you enter the next day's date, the Saturday. The rest of Saturday's trains, of course, are still OK. Check at the San Sebastien station for confirmation, but if you don't get a good first opinion, seek others....some railway employees may just say No rather than look it up for you. Just want to make sure you realize you'll be sitting up for 9+ hours all night, including a 90 minute wait at Medina del Campo. Do you plan to visit Burgos? (You've got to see the Guggenheim!). If so, there's a 5:10 pm train that arrives in Madrid at 10 pm..a lot less time riding the rails, and you can sleep in a proper bed that night!:)
Posted by
OP
Dreaming of my next trip to Europe
273 posts
Since we are traveling 1st class I was hoping to reserve a sleeping car for the first part from San Sebastian to Medina del Campo. We need to continue on to Madrid as we need to be there in the morning to meet my husband's sister.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
I'm pretty sure there's only second class on that train, so the best you may get are 6-bunk couchettes. The Spanish rail network, RENFE, books only two months in advance. But I would call them at 011-34-902-240-202 during regular office hours in Spain (9 hours ahead of you) and ask what's available.