Going from Madrid to Lisbon clearly seems to require the two changes at Badajoz and Entroncamento, ok. But I cannot figure out whether there is any help with those connections in case of delay - and also whether that connection exists every day throughout the year.
(For a work commitment, I really need to find out whether it is even possible to count on train travel to Lisbon these days or not)
@vermeer@wolfgangcramer
It's a bit of a hassle, it seems that the connections ib Badajoz got worse. I guess there is no way around checking CP (Badajoz - Entroncamento) and Renfe (Madrid - Badajoz) timetables separately for the day you want to travel. There is, as far as I know, unfortunately also no through ticketing.
@dominicstucki@vermeer Thank you, Dominic. Am still trying to figure this out. Do you have any idea why renfe, at this moment, indicates no train whatseoever between Madrid and Badajoz for the entire week when I am likely going to need them?
@wolfgangcramer
Are you trying to book in July? To me, it looks like booking for train categories other than AVE and avlo are not open yet for dates beyond beginning of May. At least, this is what I can see on other lines with a quick research. Renfe annoyingly sometimes opens bookings only as little as two months ahead, so the only thing which helps would be check again later. Maybe our #CrossBorderRail expert @jon or Spain expert @claudsch know more?
@dominicstucki@wolfgangcramer@claudsch@vermeer Also - broadly - don’t worry about the Portuguese side. Even were a train not to run CP will run a bus to Entroncamento. Because they as a company still have some ethics. It’s the Spanish part where you need more security.
@dominicstucki@wolfgangcramer@claudsch@vermeer 2 months? Hell I’ve seen as little as 1 month. Wolfgang - are any trains listed for weeks after you want to go? If not, don’t worry and wait. If yes, then you’ll likely have to re-plan.
@wolfgangcramer@jon According to the screenshots I assume that the journey will take place in June. Way too far in advance for being bookable in Spain. You can check Renfe timings by looking for connections next week (same day of the week) usually there are only minor or no changes, and book them about 1 month before. Madrid-Atocha 8:51 - Badajoz 13:39 should work Monday - Saturday, Madrid-Atocha 10:55 - Merida 15:11/31 (change) - Badajoz 16:05 should be daily @dominicstucki@claudsch@vermeer
@wrzlbrnft
Thanks, I was first considering overnight in Madrid, but it should even be possible for me to reach Badajoz in the evening - if only one could be reasonably certain about those trains. @jon@dominicstucki@claudsch@vermeer
@wolfgangcramer
I wouldn't worry too much, but it's of course personal preference of how much certainty you like. I guess, the chance of a cancelled train in Spain is not higher than in France, Germany or elsewhere - only that there are not so many alternatives. And there's still the possibility to take a bus or travel via Vigo-Porto if there are construction works or other problems on the Badajoz line.
@dominicstucki And @wolfgangcramer it’s a nice bike ride from Valença to the Spanish side of the border towards Vigo, and Guillarei-Vigo there are loads of buses. Badajoz by contrast is in the middle of nowhere. @wrzlbrnft@claudsch@vermeer
@jon@dominicstucki@wrzlbrnft@claudsch@vermeer Interesting! I don't mind bringing my brompton at all, but even figuring out the way to Vigo seems complicated. 8 hours from Barcelona? And they will under no circumstances tell you where the change is (I assume Madrid).
@dominicstucki@wolfgangcramer@claudsch@vermeer I just had a quick look. Nothing listed in June either. Looks like a typical Renfe mess to me - they just haven’t bothered that far ahead yet. Damned awful company.
@markhburton@dominicstucki@wolfgangcramer@claudsch@vermeer It depends on the line. That’s the annoying thing. If it were 60 days for everything that’d be fine. But some trains the cheap tickets are already gone before others even open.
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