Spanish suggestions

[Hoofhearted]

My son and I last year travelled on the Doura valley line in Portugal. Spectacular scenery, and loco hauled both ways. We were wondering if there are any similar routes in Spain, either controlled by RENFE, or on a heritage route? Thanks.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

There are very few loco-hauled passenger services left in Spain unfortunately, and RENFE plans to replace them with cascaded 'Alvia' units as soon as possible.

Madrid to Almeria via Linares is still diesel hauled (1 train each way) - from Linares south it traverses a very remote and desert- like area and is steeply graded. Part of the line is threatened with closure as an 'Alvia' service has also been introduced via Granada.

There are still some electrically hauled semi-fast 'IC' Talgo services left on the Barcelona - Valencia - Alicante main-line, but being mostly coastal plain it isn't particularly scenic.

 

[AdamWW]

Madrid to Almeria via Linares is still diesel hauled (1 train each way) - from Linares south it traverses a very remote and desert- like area and is steeply graded. Part of the line is threatened with closure as an 'Alvia' service has also been introduced via Granada.

When I saw it in 2022 (but sadly didn't get to travel on it) the trains were hauled by a pair of locomotives looking very much like our class 67s.


Photo of RENFE loco hauled train formed of two class 334 locomotives and a rake of Talgo coaches at Linares-Baeza station

 

[30907]

Routes on my bucket list: Bobadilla-Algeciras, Bobadilla-Malaga, the Pajares Pass north of Leon. None loco-hauled, unless the Algeciras has survived.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Routes on my bucket list: Bobadilla-Algeciras, Bobadilla-Malaga, the Pajares Pass north of Leon. None loco-hauled, unless the Algeciras has survived.

Algeciras has gone over to 'Alvia' unfortunately, but yes it is very scenic. It was fun being loco-hauled on the high-speed line to Antequera S.A.too!

 

[peteb]

If you're after scenery, not necessarily loco hauled there's a great diesel Iberian gauge line from Puertollano (on the high speed line south of Madrid) to Merida. Merida is a good place to stay for a night, lots of Roman ruins. From Merida you can continue to Badajoz then take the CP DMU service to Entrencamento. This line is also very scenic (and slow), but will eventually be superseded by the new High Speed line being built from Lisbon to Elvas so worth a ride.

I'd recommend Bobadilla to Ronda and beyond. If you avoid high season the DMUs are quite comfortable and people tend to spread out despite the RENFE compulsory seat reservations which bunch everyone together!!

 

[AdamWW]

I'd recommend Bobadilla to Ronda and beyond. If you avoid high season the DMUs are quite comfortable and people tend to spread out despite the RENFE compulsory seat reservations which bunch everyone together!!

Or maybe you can select a seat? If it's a DMU I presume it's a Media Distancia service, and in my (admittedly somewhat limited) experience, seat selection is free on those.

 

[peteb]

Or maybe you can select a seat? If it's a DMU I presume it's a Media Distancia service, and in my (admittedly somewhat limited) experience, seat selection is free on those.

Yes, it's possible to select a seat, if you select the correct option when booking online, if I recall from my trip earlier this year the cheapest seat options just get a seat allocated whereas the next tier up shows you a seating plan. Mind you as it's a schematic diagram rather than a plan it doesn't very accurately reflect where the where windows etc are.

 

[peteb]

Yes, it's possible to select a seat, if you select the correct option when booking online, if I recall from my trip earlier this year the cheapest seat options just get a seat allocated whereas the next tier up shows you a seating plan. Mind you as it's a schematic diagram rather than a plan it doesn't very accurately reflect where the where windows etc are.

Because of course every seat sold needs a seat reservation, it's Spain!!