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TRAIN CONNECTION France (Biarritz/Bordeaux) - Portugal (Lissabon/Coimbra) in july 2025

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  • caja
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Hi everyone!

I am desperatly looking for train connections between France and Portugal.

I am planning a trip with my son and we will be having to go back an forth a bit inbetween Lissabon/Coimbra and Biarritz/San Sebastian … or somewhere around there.
The perfect connection would have been this “Southexpress” from Hendaye to Lissabon but that doesnt seem to exist anymore? And so far I couldnt find any satisfying alternative. I would love to avoid having to take a bus.
The interrail-search engine doesn’t really help, as it seem to be unable to find any connections in that area.
Does anyone have more informations abot this?
Thanks in advance!

Catharina

Best answer by ralderton

The Sud Express has long gone. No more night trains in Spain. 

There is talk of bringing it back from somewhere in Spain to Lisbon this year, but I don’t really believe it. Keep your eyes open though!

From Hendaye to San Sebastián-Donosti you have to take the Euskotren, which isn’t included in the pass (cheap fares though).

Then there are connections via either Madrid or Vigo or both, to Portugal. It’s not a quick journey, sadly.

Here’s the route from Madrid to Lisbon: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/madrid-to-lisbon-by-train.htm

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ralderton
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  • ralderton
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  • March 29, 2025

The Sud Express has long gone. No more night trains in Spain. 

There is talk of bringing it back from somewhere in Spain to Lisbon this year, but I don’t really believe it. Keep your eyes open though!

From Hendaye to San Sebastián-Donosti you have to take the Euskotren, which isn’t included in the pass (cheap fares though).

Then there are connections via either Madrid or Vigo or both, to Portugal. It’s not a quick journey, sadly.

Here’s the route from Madrid to Lisbon: https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/madrid-to-lisbon-by-train.htm

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BrendanDB
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  • BrendanDB
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  • March 29, 2025

You’re travelling in July?

Some important notes:

Spain can be notoriously late in uploading it’s timetables in the planners (and for some trains they don’t bother at all to upload it). So I suspect that most timetables maybe not yet loaded up.

You can try looking for times via www.bahn.com or ÖBB scotty (it should have the timetables of most of Europe). If you don’t find any results for July, just try a random date next week. Results will be similar in July probably, give or take a few minutes.

Don’t try search for journeys that are too long: e.g. Bordeaux-Coimbra in one go. It’ll give weird results.

Split it up: e.g. Bordeaux - San-Sebastian, San Sebastian-Vigo, Vigo-Coimbra,...

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    AnnaB
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  • caja
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  • March 29, 2025

Thank you for your replies! 

I started to split up the trip and yes … there’s no quick trip. If they’d reopen the Sud Express that would be so great - who is in charge of that? Do you know? Maybe if many people write to them, it makes them hurry up :)
So from what i found out is, that it’s taking quite the exact same time (20-21hrs) wether you go
san sebastian - vigo - coimbra OR san sebastian - madrid - coimbra.
Each trip requires one night in either vigo or madrid.
I think I’ll check out Madrid for an afternoon - could be worse ;)
Thanks again!

ralderton
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  • ralderton
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  • March 29, 2025

I think if they reopen it (big big if!) it won't be the Sud Express. More likely the Lusitania from Madrid to Lisbon.

Yes, I think you'll need to spend the night somewhere for three time being.

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