adamedwards
Member
- Joined
- 4 Apr 2016
- Messages
- 796
Man at Seat 61 has published plans by Renfe to run a train into Spain in 2024 possibly Madrid to Lisbon under open access rules. This depends on the new fast line from Elvas to Evora being completed in December 2024.
This led me to look at what current timings are now and it would apear perfectly feasible to run a train from Madrid to Lisbon and back in a day as soon as the new line opens. Timings could be something like this:
Madrid 0728
Badajoz 1224
Evora 1200 (-1h Portugal time)
Lisbon 1330
(Approx 6 hours running time, with 2 hours allowed for turnaround)
Lisbon 1536
Evora 1706
Badajoz 1836 (+1h Spanish time)
Madrid 2321
This based purely on existing times in the European Timetable plus an assumed Badajoz to Madrid time of 2 hours.
A second train in the evening could run at 1628 arrive Lisbon 2230 and return the next morning at 0836 arrive Madrid 1621.
I've no idea if these timings would stand up to the reality of services on this route, but my experience of Spanish trains at Easter this year suggested most run to time.
Assuming a 6 hour journey is possible, that's on hour faster than the road coaches on the same route. Against air, which takes 1h15 to 1h25, you need to add in 30mins each end travel to/from the airports, plus check in, so say 3h15-3h25. Rail is not competitive, but it will then depend on the price and competition. The rail offer is much simpler as it required no changes (unlike the current rail offer with 2 changes and a vintage railcar!)
Obviously the major constraint would be Renfe getting permission to run a Talgo to Lisbon, staffing and servicing, paths, etc and the time taken to set this up.
I realise this may be too speculative for this section of the forum, so moderators please move to the speculative section if that's the better home for this discussion.
This led me to look at what current timings are now and it would apear perfectly feasible to run a train from Madrid to Lisbon and back in a day as soon as the new line opens. Timings could be something like this:
Madrid 0728
Badajoz 1224
Evora 1200 (-1h Portugal time)
Lisbon 1330
(Approx 6 hours running time, with 2 hours allowed for turnaround)
Lisbon 1536
Evora 1706
Badajoz 1836 (+1h Spanish time)
Madrid 2321
This based purely on existing times in the European Timetable plus an assumed Badajoz to Madrid time of 2 hours.
A second train in the evening could run at 1628 arrive Lisbon 2230 and return the next morning at 0836 arrive Madrid 1621.
I've no idea if these timings would stand up to the reality of services on this route, but my experience of Spanish trains at Easter this year suggested most run to time.
Assuming a 6 hour journey is possible, that's on hour faster than the road coaches on the same route. Against air, which takes 1h15 to 1h25, you need to add in 30mins each end travel to/from the airports, plus check in, so say 3h15-3h25. Rail is not competitive, but it will then depend on the price and competition. The rail offer is much simpler as it required no changes (unlike the current rail offer with 2 changes and a vintage railcar!)
Obviously the major constraint would be Renfe getting permission to run a Talgo to Lisbon, staffing and servicing, paths, etc and the time taken to set this up.
I realise this may be too speculative for this section of the forum, so moderators please move to the speculative section if that's the better home for this discussion.