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Travelling from León to Santander Estación by train

Looking to travel from León to Santander Estación by train? You've come to the right place!

On average, it takes around 4 hours 13 minutes to travel from León to Santander Estación by train, the fastest services can get you there in as little as 3 hours 47 minutes though. You'll usually find 3 trains per day running along the 107 miles (173 km) route between these two destinations. You’ll need to make 1 change during the journey to Santander Estación, as there currently aren't any direct services on this route. Trains on this route are usually operated by either AVE or Renfe. On board you'll find modern comfortable seating and plenty of room for luggage as standard.

Plan your trip ahead of time and book early if you want to snap up the cheapest fares. Tickets from León to Santander Estación start from £23.03 when you book in advance, so use our Journey Planner to view the latest prices.

If you’re feeling ready to book, start looking for cheap train tickets with us today. Keep reading for more information on the journey to Santander Estación by train, including our timetable where you can view first and last train times.

León to Santander Estación by train

It takes an average of 4h 13m to travel from León to Santander Estación by train, over a distance of around 107 miles (173 km). There are normally 3 trains per day travelling from León to Santander Estación and tickets for this journey start from £23.03 when you book in advance.

First train

08:03

Last train

17:43

Departure station

León

Arrival station

Santander Estación

Journey time

From 3h 47m

Distance

107 miles (173 km)

Frequency

3 trains per day

Changes

1 change

Price

From £23.03

Train and bus operators

Renfe, ALSA

León to Santander Estación train times

Check out the next trains departing from León to Santander Estación for Tuesday 2nd April 2024. For the full train timetable/schedule, or to search for a later time or date, click here.
DepartsArrivesDuration
07:03 10:50 3h 47m, 1 change
12:37 16:47 4h 10m, 1 change
16:43 21:25 4h 42m, 1 change

AVE, Renfe, Alvia and Media Distancia trains from León to Santander Estación

You can travel from León to Santander Estación on AVE, Renfe, Alvia and Media Distancia trains. When you search for times and tickets, we might also show you some other options with multiple connections or operators if they’re available.

AVE is Renfe's flagship high-speed service, with trains capable of reaching up to 193 mph (310 km/h). It’s one of the fastest trains in Europe and connects the main cities of Spain. Most AVE trains offer two comfort classes – Estándard (Standard Class) and Confort (First Class equivalent, with 1-1 configuration, ultra-wide seats, gourmet food and drink and lounge access). All AVE trains have air conditioning, power sockets, free WiFi and a buffet carriage serving a selection of food and drinks. There are three fares for AVE services: the cheapest but least flexible Básico fare, the Elige fare (slightly pricier but more flexible), and the Premium fare for seats in Confort Class.

Renfe is the national train operator in Spain. It operates trains on the longest high-speed railway network in Europe, and the second-longest in the world. The country's major cities are linked up by the high-speed AVE and Avlo trains, while other long-distance routes are served by Altaria, Talgo, Alvia and Euromed trains. Renfe also operates cross-border services into neighbouring Portugal and France. Depending on which service you are travelling on, you'll usually find two classes on Renfe trains - Estándard (Standard Class) and Confort (First Class). Fare types range from the cheapest (but least flexible) Básico fare, to the more flexible Elige fares, to the Premium fare for seats in Confort carriages.

Renfe's Alvia services combine high-speed tracks with lower speed sections, reaching speeds of up to 155 mph (250 km/h) on international lines and 125 mph (200 km/h) on conventional lines. These trains connect the cities of Madrid, Barcelona and Alicante with the other main Spanish cities. Alvia offers two types of classes – Turista (Second Class) and Preferente (First Class). The latter has wider seats, carriages with fewer seats, offers complimentary food and drinks, free newspapers, and access to parking and Club meeting rooms.

Renfe's Media Distancia are regional trains operated by CAF locomotives that run on medium-distance routes not covered by Avant high-speed trains. Most Media Distancia trains have one class. However, there are some that will have Turista (Second Class) and Preferente (First Class). These trains also have spaces for bicycles, and all seats are equipped with power sockets and reading lights.

AVE and Alvia classes from León to Santander Estación

Compare the different travel classes offered by AVE and Alvia when travelling from León to Santander Estación.

Onboard services on AVE and Alvia

Discover more about the onboard services offered on trains from León to Santander Estación.

LuggageLuggageLuggage

With AVE, you can travel with up to 3 pieces of luggage that do not exceed 290 cm and 25 kg. In total, the maximum measurements of each piece of luggage are 85 x 55 x 35 cm. Musical instruments also count as hand luggage as long as they do not exceed the dimensions 30 x 120 x 38 cm and are stored in a case.

RestaurantRestaurantFood and drink

If you’d like to stretch your legs and grab a coffee during your journey, AVE trains have an onboard bar carriage serving drinks and snacks. If you’d prefer to stay in your seat, AVE staff sell food and drinks from a trolley that will pass through the train during the journey.

WiFiWiFiEntertainment

On AVE trains, you can take advantage of PlayRenfe – their free WiFi and entertainment service. Giving you access to exclusive content and fast connection speeds, PlayRenfe can be downloaded from the app store on your phone. Once you’re connected, you can access the PlayRenfe portal, where you’ll find exclusive live sport, news, films and TV series.

ChildPassengerChildPassengerTravel with children

Children under 3 years old travel for free with AVE, as long as they do not occupy a seat and have their free child ticket. Children from 3 to 14 years old can take advantage of a 40% discount on ticket prices.

ModeOfTransportBikeModeOfTransportBikeBikes

On all AVE trains, each passenger can take one bicycle or scooter on board, as long as it’s folded and carried inside a case. Also, the pedals must be removed and handlebars turned 90 degrees. Lastly, if the sum of the dimensions of the case is less than 180cm, it is considered as hand luggage. However, if it’s bigger, it will be considered as special luggage (max dimensions 120 x 90 x 40 cm).

PetPetPets

With AVE, you can travel with a pet as long as it weighs no more than 10 kg and travels inside a cage or carrier (60 x 35 x 35 cm). Your pet must have their own pet ticket, unless you’re travelling with a Premium ticket, in which case the pet ticket is free. Guide and assistance dogs travel for free.

WheelchairWheelchairSpecial Assistance

AVE offer a free assistance and care service for people with reduced mobility. To request the service, passengers should contact AVE directly.

LuggageLuggageLuggage

On Alvia trains you can take up to three pieces of luggage on board, provided that they are less than 290cm long and weigh less than 25kg in total. Pushchairs and instruments smaller than 30 x 120 x 38 cm are also classed as hand luggage.

RestaurantRestaurantFood and drink

Most Alvia trains have an onboard café-bar, as well as an at-seat trolley service with a wide selection of food and drinks.

WiFiWiFiEntertainment

On board Alvia services, you can connect to PlayRenfe, a platform offering free WiFi and hours of entertainment.

ChildPassengerChildPassengerTravel with children

Children under 4 travel free on Alvia services with a free child's ticket. Plus, passengers under 14 get a 40% discount on their chosen tariff.

ModeOfTransportBikeModeOfTransportBikeBikes

With Alvia, folded bicycles that are less than 180cm long and are stored in a case count as hand luggage. If your bike is larger than this, it will count as special luggage and must be no larger than 120 x 90 x 40 cm - you must also detach the pedals and rotate the handlebars 90 degrees.

PetPetPets

You can take your pet with you if they weigh less than 10kg, travel in a carrier no larger than 60 x 35 x 35 cm, and have a pet ticket. In Elige Confort a pet ticket is free, while in Básico a pet ticket costs 25% of the price of a ticket.

WheelchairWheelchairSpecial Assistance

Alvia has an assistance service for passengers with reduced mobility or a disability. To arrange assistance, you can call (+34) 900 400 555 (international calling charges may apply).

Cheap train tickets from León to Santander Estación

The price of train tickets from León to Santander Estación starts at £23.03 one-way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. Booking on the day is usually more expensive and costs can vary depending on the time of day, route or class.

Book in advance

Most of the train companies across Europe release their tickets around three to six months in advance, many of which can be cheaper the earlier you book. If you know the dates you want to travel, you may be able to find some cheaper train tickets from León to Santander Estación by booking early.§

Be flexible with your travel times

Many of the train services in Europe are also popular commuter services, lots of train companies increase ticket prices during “peak hours” (generally between 06:00 – 10:00 and 15:00 – 19:00 on weekdays). If you can, consider travelling outside of peak hours to find lower priced tickets.

Choose a slower or connecting train

On some of the busier routes, you might also have the option to take a slower or connecting train. It may take a little longer than some high-speed or direct services, but if you have a little extra time on your hands, you might find a cheaper fare. Plus, you'll have more time to enjoy the view of the countryside!

Look out for special deals

Take a look at our handy guides to find out when train operators release their special deals and offers to see if you can find cheap European train tickets for your journey.

For specific information about how to get your hands on cheap tickets, check out our European train tickets hub.

§Some train companies may not offer any Advance ticket types or cheaper deals for early bookings. On rare occasions, train companies may choose to release special offers closer to the date on last-minute or late-release tickets. This is dependent on the individual train operating company you travel with.

Journey details

Want to know more about your journey from León to Santander Estación? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How long does the train from León to Santander Estación take?

The average journey time by train between León and Santander Estación is 4 hours and 13 minutes, with around 3 trains per day. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.

What's the fastest journey time between León and Santander Estación by train?

The fastest journey time by train from León to Santander Estación is 3 hours and 47 minutes.

How much does the train from León to Santander Estación cost?

Train ticket prices from León to Santander Estación can start from as little as £23.03 when you book in advance. The cost of tickets can vary depending on the time of day, route and class you book and are usually more expensive if you book on the day.

Is there a direct train from León to Santander Estación?

No, there are no direct train services from León to Santander Estación. Travelling from León to Santander Estación by train will require a minimum of 1 change.

What time does the first train from León to Santander Estación leave?

The first train from León to Santander Estación leaves at 08:03. Times and services may vary during weekends and holidays.

What time does the last train from León to Santander Estación leave?

The last train from León to Santander Estación leaves at 17:43. Trains that depart in the early morning hours or very late evening may be sleeper services, time and services may also vary during weekends and holidays.

What's the distance between León and Santander Estación by train?

Trains travelling from León to Santander Estación cover a distance of around 107 miles (173 km) during the journey.

Looking for more information?

If you’re looking for the return train journey, check out trains from Santander Estación to León.

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