Is there a train from Santiago to Salamanca without having to go back to Madrid

Nope - none except for some weird connections during the night - it's back to Madrid I think but do check out buses that probably run some kind of route like that - for info on Spanish trains check: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

www.alsa.es

about 30E or so

Yes, use renfe.es.

Santiago to Medina del Campo, 16:05 to 20:37
Medina del Campo to Salamanca, 21:50 - 22:32.

It's a long layover (which allows for the incoming train to be late, lol) but hardly the middle of the night.

You may be able to work out a better routing by looking at individual legs connecting through Palencia or Valladolid.

It seems like more than one train.
Use rome2 website.
http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Santiago-d...tela/Salamanca
Bus is cheaper and slightly quicker. The trouble is you are sitting until the bus stops. No stretching the legs like on a train.

Thanks everyone, looks like it's easier to go back thru Madrid. Ribeirasacra thanks for the great website.

bus goes straight there it seems

ribeirasacra web' site link also indicates trains are significantly cheaper than the bus and like ribeirasacra says if about the same time take the train and stretch your legs when you want - also easier to get to the loo.

oh.. i thought he had to change trains somewhere.

The Aliva, the quickest morning train, goes from Santiago to Medina del Campo at 09h05 for the 4hr 38m trip. The MD departs Medina del Campo in the afternoon at 14h48, arriving in Salamanca an hour and five minutes later.

The time is about the same as taking the LD-MD, departing Santiago at 16h05, connecting through Madrid. You would arrivie in Salamanca at 22h38.

oh.. i thought he had to change trains somewhere.>

Yes they do - once in Madrid or as Robert says above in Medina del Campo.