I'm hoping to stay near Cerbère for a few days at the end of October and was thinking of doing a trip into Spain (Girona). However there appear to be no afternoon or evening trains on the Barcelona to Port Bou route on weekdays. Does anyone know why? Engineering works? Seems odd you can go south in the morning but not return in the afternoon.
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Perpignan to Barcelona via coastal route Port Bou
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farci
Member
On DB website I was able to find these direct journeys Girona-Cerbère on a random date in late October:
Girona We, 16.10.19 10:56 1:08 0
Cerbère We, 16.10.19 12:04
Girona We, 16.10.19 12:56 1:08 0
Cerbère We, 16.10.19 14:04
Girona We, 16.10.19 14:56 1:08 0
Cerbère We, 16.10.19 16:04
Other times are routed via Perpignan
Girona We, 16.10.19 10:56 1:08 0
Cerbère We, 16.10.19 12:04
Girona We, 16.10.19 12:56 1:08 0
Cerbère We, 16.10.19 14:04
Girona We, 16.10.19 14:56 1:08 0
Cerbère We, 16.10.19 16:04
Other times are routed via Perpignan
Thanks for that. I had looked at DB and tried Rfne but no late afternoon or evening trains. Makes a day trip to Girona or Barcelona on the coast route impossible. I wondered if theres planned engineering works but if so would have expected a bus replacement service.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
I found this timetable on the Rodalies de Catalunya site (local trains).
The 2-hourly trains from Girona to Cerbere seem to run until 2021 in the evening.
There are notices about alterations on the Barcelona side of Girona, which I haven't decoded.
http://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/02_Horaris/horaris/RG1.pdf
Look out for the dual gauge track for freight trains through Girona!
It's a bit of a walk to the centre of Girona, but well worth the effort.
The 2-hourly trains from Girona to Cerbere seem to run until 2021 in the evening.
There are notices about alterations on the Barcelona side of Girona, which I haven't decoded.
http://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/02_Horaris/horaris/RG1.pdf
Look out for the dual gauge track for freight trains through Girona!
It's a bit of a walk to the centre of Girona, but well worth the effort.
Renfe are notorious for not uploading timetables - some data is missing even a month away.
I would go by the PDF linked. It is a temporary timetable to allow for engineering works, so there may be a slight improvement. I would not expect massive changes.
I would go by the PDF linked. It is a temporary timetable to allow for engineering works, so there may be a slight improvement. I would not expect massive changes.
Rodalies/Cercanias is Renfe's suburban network (using a wide definition of suburban - the border at La Tour de Carol is an even longer journey from Barcelona than Cerbere) though it may be specified by regional government.
BTW some of the trains are designated Media Distanza and IIRC you have to reserve a seat (even just before travel).
There has been an issue with bahn.de not showing R/C times in the past, but that seems to have been sorted; they are there for tomorrow, just not for the autumn.
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LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
As I understand it, Catalunya specifies and probably funds the Rodalies train services, and operation is contracted out to Renfe.
Much the same as the Cercanias around Madrid and other major centres are specified by the city/region.
It's much the same model as regional TER services which are contracted out to SNCF in France.
Much the same as the Cercanias around Madrid and other major centres are specified by the city/region.
It's much the same model as regional TER services which are contracted out to SNCF in France.
ricohallo
Member
Actually the Media Distancia trains between Port Bou and Barcelona appear to be the only MD trains without compulsory reservation. Tickets for the Media Distancia trains are a bit more expensive though.
Wychwood93
Member
Another link would be:
http://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/pdf/horaris/R11.pdf
- this shows the times through to Cerbère. From Cerbère see:
https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF...ARBONNE PAYSAGE_tcm76-224181_tcm76-224182.pdf
A route I am quite fond of - also have a look at:
http://www.trenscat.com/
- 'regionals R11' for Cerbère/Portbou to Barcelona.
http://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/pdf/horaris/R11.pdf
- this shows the times through to Cerbère. From Cerbère see:
https://cdn.ter.sncf.com/medias/PDF...ARBONNE PAYSAGE_tcm76-224181_tcm76-224182.pdf
A route I am quite fond of - also have a look at:
http://www.trenscat.com/
- 'regionals R11' for Cerbère/Portbou to Barcelona.
I've just looked at Table 657 in the current edition of the "European Rail Timetable" and there are local services shown from Gerona to Cerbère at 16.56 and 18.56. There is also a later departure at 20.54 to Port Bou only.
coupwotcoup
Member
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Just checked with a local timetable - RG1 - and there are about a dozen trains a day
from Portbou to Girona. Plus there is the new cross border shuttle too.
from Portbou to Girona. Plus there is the new cross border shuttle too.
johnnychips
Established Member
Don’t forget to take your passport. Even though both countries are in Schengen there are sometimes checks.
Wychwood93
Member
I have never had any on the local services - but quite a few in the old Talgo days. Certainly a good idea to have your passport to hand!
coupwotcoup
Member
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Have many fond memories of the Montpellier - Barça Talgo - on most trips, the
bar would end up in a party...staggered off at Girona the worse for wear on many an occasion...
Pre direct trains to Barcelona, the Douanes at Portbou were usually hit or miss but always
seemed to be in operation when time was tight for one's connection South.
Only experienced one check on the international train, ironically the day I'd left my
passport in my mate's flat - but the French border police didn't seem too bothered
as they had bigger fish to fry that day...
bar would end up in a party...staggered off at Girona the worse for wear on many an occasion...
Pre direct trains to Barcelona, the Douanes at Portbou were usually hit or miss but always
seemed to be in operation when time was tight for one's connection South.
Only experienced one check on the international train, ironically the day I'd left my
passport in my mate's flat - but the French border police didn't seem too bothered
as they had bigger fish to fry that day...
riceuten
Member
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- 522
Was there a couple of years ago doing this in reverse (Perpignan - Portbou), and yes, I DID have my passport checked - bizarrely, by the French at Cerbere - we were about 15 mins late leaving as a consequence. There were no checks in and out of Spain, or coming back into France. It's an odd operation, where Frencn trains (SNCF) used to operate (sometimes) to Portbou, but NOT Portbou to Cerbere (they operated empty back to Cerbere) and Renfe operated (sometimes) to Cerbere but NOT Cerbere to Portbou. It's the same malarkey with Hendaye and Irun at the other end of the Pyrennes.
Annoyingly, you can buy a ticket Perpignan to Portbou with SNCF (€9.20, sometimes €5), but at Portbou, they wouldonly sell you a ticket to Cerbere, you have to buy another ticket if you want to go to Cerbere (or buy a return ticket to Cerbere, and a return ticket Cerbere to Portbou). I am told there are arcane reasons behind this operational style, notwithstanding the gauge change. I think you CAN buy these tickets on line however.
Annoyingly, you can buy a ticket Perpignan to Portbou with SNCF (€9.20, sometimes €5), but at Portbou, they wouldonly sell you a ticket to Cerbere, you have to buy another ticket if you want to go to Cerbere (or buy a return ticket to Cerbere, and a return ticket Cerbere to Portbou). I am told there are arcane reasons behind this operational style, notwithstanding the gauge change. I think you CAN buy these tickets on line however.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
The annoying thing is that roughly halves the number of cross-border services you can actually use, and they are few enough (2-hourly if you are lucky).
I believe the procedure dates right back to the original border agreements when the lines at each end of the Pyrenees opened in the 1860s and might be something to do with operation of the "wrong" gauge on each side of the border.
The Portbou line seems to be in a time-warp now, with the direct high-speed line taking the through traffic.
On the western side, there are plans for Adif to implement mixed-gauge tack from the border to a point where it will meet the planned new standard gauge AVE route.
That might bring TGV/AVE cross-border services (except that Spain has run out of money...).
I travelled northbound Girona-Montpellier via Portbou last year, and could buy a TER ticket Cerbere-Montpellier online, but had to buy Girona-Cerbere at the ticket office in Girona, on the day.
They couldn't even sell me the ticket the day before...
I think there were 6 minutes between trains at Cerbere, and it needed a run via the underpass to be sure (or a 3-hour wait) as we were a few minutes down.
There was a passport check on the small handful of passengers.
Spain and France are having a big disagreement about immigration just now, with France complaining Spain doesn't do enough to process African immigrants on its side of the border.
I believe the procedure dates right back to the original border agreements when the lines at each end of the Pyrenees opened in the 1860s and might be something to do with operation of the "wrong" gauge on each side of the border.
The Portbou line seems to be in a time-warp now, with the direct high-speed line taking the through traffic.
On the western side, there are plans for Adif to implement mixed-gauge tack from the border to a point where it will meet the planned new standard gauge AVE route.
That might bring TGV/AVE cross-border services (except that Spain has run out of money...).
I travelled northbound Girona-Montpellier via Portbou last year, and could buy a TER ticket Cerbere-Montpellier online, but had to buy Girona-Cerbere at the ticket office in Girona, on the day.
They couldn't even sell me the ticket the day before...
I think there were 6 minutes between trains at Cerbere, and it needed a run via the underpass to be sure (or a 3-hour wait) as we were a few minutes down.
There was a passport check on the small handful of passengers.
Spain and France are having a big disagreement about immigration just now, with France complaining Spain doesn't do enough to process African immigrants on its side of the border.
As coupwotcoup has already mentioned, the cross-border Renfe ECS now run as passenger shuttles, and the SNCF services start back from Port Bou. Even at Irun, the Lisbon sleeper now starts back from Hendaye to maintain a connection from Paris.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Ah, that's much better.
Wychwood93
Member
Good news.
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