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Spanish rail rickets

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158801

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I am trying to buy a ticket from Girona to Madrid on a direct service in November.

My understanding is that Spansih trains go on sale 2 months beforehand.

Until today, 6 weeks to departure, there was nothing shown on either raileurope.co.uk or renfe.es for this line. However, other trains for other lines were shown.

Today, Renfe.es has been loaded with some trains - but not the one I need. The Thomas Cook Rail timetable shows that train I need as running through until December.

Do I wait....or change my plans and travel at an inappropriate time just to get a train that is on the system now ? How do I know that the train I want will be running at all ?
 
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437.001

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Hi.

By which time you´d need to take the AVE from Girona to Madrid?
 
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Squaddie

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There have been several stories in the Spanish press over the summer about reductions in services (including, in some cases, total withdrawal of services) on many lines in Spain in an attempt to cut losses. Some of the stories have focused on the lack of warning given by Renfe, and the fact that in some cases revised timetables are not available even after services have been withdrawn.

I don't know whether this particular route has been subject to reductions, or whether it's just that Renfe is being slow in loading services into its database, but if I were you I'd book that 13:10 service.
 
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437.001

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Hi again.

The Renfe website is a mess, many of us Spaniards are in trouble because they upload the trains sometimes very short before the trains runs.
They really need advice on how to run a web, and they also need to know to promote their services more, to let them be known.

Advice: Keep on trying, but in case you don´t find the right train uploaded, you can buy a Barcelona to Madrid AVE ticket (there are more of them uploaded than from Girona), and get a Girona to Barcelona regional ticket at Girona station itself.
It´s a possibility in a case of emergency, but it might be useful, since some classic trains have a good travel time between the two cities (not all, though, look at the travel times!!) and you don´t have to book in advance for regional classic trains (the MD, Regional Express, or Regional ones).
I´d keep on trying though. Good luck.
 
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158801

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The tickets for my journey have finally gone on sale - just under 5 weeks before departure.

However I shouldn't complain. £8.70 for a Priv (FIP) single from Girona to Madrid - a journey that takes 4 hours and is around 400 miles !
 
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