madrid to lisbon sleeper train
 

We have done overnight trips in several countries but not in the past few years. I have done some research but still have a few questions.

Can this trip be (easily) pre-booked on the internet? approx. price if pre-booked (we could either be in our own 2 person compartment OR share a single sex larger compartment). I am seeing we can only pre-book 62 days out? If we wait until in Madrid - approx. price? Thanks for your help and feedback!

From what I've heard, the Madrid-Lisbon overnight train is due to stop running at the end of December, too expensive to maintain the line.

A new high speed train is in the works but who knows when it will be ready.

Hello..
As you probably already know, train from Lisbon would go through Madrid BUT it is an overnight train so you could sleep on train. Then, it is a 2 1/2 hour journey to Seville. These trains are common there. But as some of my friends said, road trip is actually nice, highways are great and allows you to stop along the way; you really do not need a car in Madrid, but a car in Lisbon may come in handy to do some out of town trips.

Regards,
Ankush

Currently there is no reliable day connection by rail between Portugal and Madrid - either Lisbon or Porto that is - a few changes of train are required and change times are short so you could be stranded en route - the overnight train is the only direct train.

But do perhaps as I did and break your journey in Elvas, wonderful old Elvas just over the border in Portugal and take a bus from there either to Lisbon or to a rail station en route to Lisbon.

I had not heard that the Madrid-Lisbon trenhotel was going to stop running. I know it's frequently cheaper to fly but the train is a nice experience. As far as the high speed train goes, that's not going to happen until the new Lisbon airport across the river opens and a new bridge from that airport to the Oriente train station is built. That will be at least 10 years, probably more. I saw a display showing how it was all going to be, and the timeline was pretty far out, and that was before the economy tanked and the plan disappeared. So is it possible that there will be no direct train service between the two cities?

I've only been in the 4-person single sex sleeper cars, so I can't tell you about the 2-person one. But the 4-person was fine.

Adult daughter and I were on the Lisbon-Madrid last month coming from San Sebestian to Salmanca..overnight arriving @ 4AM. We did not take the sleeper section but it looked lovely, dining car especially as we boarded @ 10PM. Google " train trip from LIS to MAD " and see how Renfe comes up. It was a comfortable ride, scenic going up to the Basque city and quiet coming back.

the Lisbon to San Sebastian train via Salamanca goes thru Madrid? Never did before must be a change.

The Sud Expresso goes through Salamanca and Burgos on the way to Hendaye, but does not go through Madrid.

The Lusitânia Combolo Hotel train runs from Lisbon to Madrid. It is supposed to be replaced by a new high speed train sometime in 2013, but who knows with the current economy.

You currently cannot purchase tickets on the Lusitânia Combolo Hotel from Lisbon to Madrid on the CP website after 3 Jan., or on Renfe (Madrid-Lisbon and Lisboa-Madrid) after 5 Jan.

still looking for some price info, pre-booking advice - looking at the RENFE website, it still seems to be running (shows times and prices for early Feb.)On the website there was a link to a US agent - Petrabax? anyone have any experience with them?

I was confused about the Madrid reference as well as the Seville? connection.

Forget the train-take a flight on Vueling!

Robert - "you currently cannot purchase tickets..." do you mean becasue they are not sold in advance or because the train will not be running? I thought that I had looked at the RENFE website and saw a schedule for into Feb. - there was an "International Trains" section and it gave some info on the Madrid to Lisbon route - did not mention it being discontinued.

On the website there was a link to a US agent - Petrabax? anyone have any experience with them?>

Vaguely but not enough to comment but I was told by a Rail Europe agent who I have dealth with for years that RailEurope now taps into the RENFE www.renfe.es web site and offers a similar range of fares and not just full priced tickets as previously. I do not know about this but if you want to call the folks at www.budgeteuropetravel.com and ask for Byron he may know the current situation of that and he is also IME a font of good information on European trains.

Renfe is showing tickets from Lisbon to Madrid, but no train on 6 Jan (Epiphany). CP still hasn't updated their website to reflect any Lisbon-Madrid trains after 3 Jan 2012.

We've used Petrabax. They work fine, but you do pay a premium, as with Rail Europe.

I have found a variety of sources stating that the Lisbon-Madrid high speed rail link has been cancelled. http://www.coastrider.net/news/natio...bon-madrid-ave

That would seem to make it more likely that the regular old trenhotel would keep running, but who knows. And though I'm no RENFE expert, it does look like there are no Madrid-Lisbon trains listed for 2012.

BTW, and though you didn't ask, if you are left with no trains, I'd strongly suggest plane over bus. The buses are slow and boring, though they do offer basic levels of comfort.

Nearly six years ago I went the other way, Lisbon to Madrid, on the night train. I was traveling on a EurailPass and the T-4 bunk cost €29 extra. It was January and the train was virtually deserted.

Keep in mind that Portugal and Spain are in different time zones. The Portuguese train stations in the countryside are decorated with some very nice tile murals.

For a good cheap lunch with a view go to the ninth floor cafeteria of the Pollux department store and sit outside.

spaarne, a lot has changed in six years...

Lisbon to Madrid high-speed rail link has to be a casualty of the austerity budget in Spain one would think.

PalenQ is right - www.raileurope-world.com now taps into the Renfe ticketing system and offers the same fares as renfe.com, with just a 4 euro fee added.

If renfe.com doesn't work for you, for example you have credit card acceptance problems, raileurope-world.com is now a good fallback.

It will book the Madrid-Lisbon 'Lusitania' sleeper train, at least if you want a bed in a 2-bed sleeper.

Unfortunately, Rail Europe set up their website around only two 'classes' 'second' and 'first', forgetting that sleeper trains might have 5 or 6 different types of accommodation. They have had to set up 'second class' to = a seat (NOT recommended) and 'first class' to = a 2-bed sleeper, for 102 euros per person incluidng breakfast.

It is therefore a good option to use www.raileurope-world.com if you are happy with a 2-bed sleeper, but it's not possible to use it to book a bed in a cheaper 4-berth Tourist sleeper, or a bed in a wonderful 2-berth Gran Clase sleeper with shower (and 3-course dinner with wine and breakfast included!), as their website hasn't got enough 'classes' in their software (if that makes sense!)

thanks Man in seat 61 for the details on something I had just heard but did not know how works!

Man in seat 61 has a link to RailEurope on his commercial site www.seat61.com so if having problems with www.renfe.es and willing to pay an extra 4 euros click on the link on Man in Seat 61's site and he'll get some commission I presume - and well earned!

I have found a variety of sources stating that the Lisbon-Madrid high speed rail link has been cancelled.

That would seem to make it more likely that the regular old trenhotel would keep running, but who knows.>

Perhaps but I think the advent of discount airlines and cheap flights are more responsible for knocking overnight trains off the tracks than a speedy daytime connection, which still would take a considerable time and of course years to build if not started now.

Yep the high-speed train routes (yes there was planned to be more than one) have been put on ice for the foreseeable future.
The future of the over night trains is doubtful too. But this is not unusual as I think that others in the UK and one between France and Italy have also been scraped recently.

So does this mean there will be no train connection at all between Lisbon and Madrid?

if the overnight train goes then there will be no rail link between Lisbon/Porto and Madrid - at least direct train and taking regional trains on the route is just about impossible due to several changes and risk of getting stuck somewhere by late-running trains.

Buses probably run the route I would think.

Yes, buses do run the route, but I have taken one and it is extremely painful (well, ok, that's a slight exaggeration). It goes from Oriente train station through Sesimbra (or is it Setubal, one of the two), and then very slowly works its way to Madrid. With an hour's stop on the autovia at an awful cafeteria. It is an all day affair, best I can remember. Easyjet it is, then!

I am the OP for this thread - it has continued on even after my plans changed - I did some additional research on my own after the original post. I connected with Petrabax, eventually called them, and at this time it would seem the overnights will continue. Tickets can be pre-purchased thru that website - the tickets are then emailed - sounded alot easier than the RENFE circus - not sure how much of a surcharge there is. Anyways just adding this info for others that may read the post.

Hi:

We just got a quote of $204 per person for the overnight train to book from US.
Is this a good price? or is it better to pay in Euro in Lisbon for the tickets?

Thanks for sharing.

googol - Your $204 equates to about €160.

You do not say what class of ticket your $204 covers. The 'best' - Cama Grand Clase - is €144.90 on the RENFE site for all days in February. This is the price you will pay purchasing at the station in Lisbon. Seating only is available at a web advance purchase of €24, if that suits.

http://www.renfe.com/

any ticket and fare on www.renfe.com now can be booked thru Rail Europe and its agents for just a $7 mark up - that said not all types of sleeper options may be yet listed but if finding renfe.com balking try Rail Europe in the U.S!