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Taking the train from Waterloo to Madrid in 13 hours 38 minutes

Thinking about taking the train from Waterloo to Madrid? We’ve got you covered.

It usually takes around 19 hours 15 minutes to travel the 811 miles (1305 km) from Waterloo to Madrid by train, although you can get there in as little as 13 hours 38 minutes on the fastest services. You’ll normally find around 8 trains per day running on this route. You’ll need to make 3 changes along the way as there aren't any direct services on this line.

Train tickets from Waterloo to Madrid are usually cheaper when you book in advance compared to buying them on the day. Start a search in our Journey Planner to check out the latest prices.

Keen to book your train tickets to Madrid? No need to wait, start a search with us today! If you want to find out a bit more about the journey first, you can find our train timetable below, tips on booking cheap tickets and our FAQs, including first and last train times.

Waterloo to Madrid by train

First train

05:10

Last train

20:19

Departure station

Waterloo

Arrival station

Madrid

Journey time

From 13h 38m

Distance

811 miles (1305 km)

Frequency

8 trains per day

Changes

3 changes

FAQs about the train journey from Waterloo to Madrid

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

How do you travel to Madrid from Waterloo?

To get to Madrid from Waterloo, why not take the train? With 8 trains per day and an average journey time of 19 hours and 15 minutes, taking the train is a great way to travel. See our Journey Planner for up-to-date times and prices.

How long does it take to get from Waterloo to Madrid by train?

On average, it takes around 19 hours and 15 minutes to travel from Waterloo to Madrid by train, although you can get there in 13 hours and 38 minutes on the fastest services. With 8 trains per day running on this route, journey times may vary, so check our Journey Planner for more information.

How fast can trains travel from Waterloo to Madrid?

The fastest time a train can travel the 811 miles (1305 km) from Waterloo to Madrid is 13 hours and 38 minutes.

Are there any direct trains from Waterloo to Madrid?

There are no direct trains that run between Waterloo and Madrid. You’ll need to make at least 3 changes along the way.

Waterloo to Madrid train times

Check out the next trains departing from Waterloo to Madrid for Tuesday 6th May 2025. For the full train timetable/schedule, or to search for a later time or date, click here.
DepartsArrivesDuration
04:1020:0215h 52m, 7 changes
04:1020:5216h 42m, 6 changes
08:4122:1913h 38m, 3 changes
09:4107:3221h 51m, 3 changes
16:4114:5222h 11m, 3 changes
17:4114:5221h 11m, 4 changes
19:1016:3221h 22m, 3 changes
19:1916:3221h 13m, 4 changes

Cheap train tickets from Waterloo to Madrid

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 Waterloo to Madrid 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.

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