Mastodawn

lars' transport world Oct 6, 2025

🇵🇹 Porto Campanhã, terminus of the Tren Celta. I'm happy to arrive in Portugal for the first time, but I am also a little sad. This is my last 'first time' arriving in a European country west of my home by train. Welcome to the last chapter of #BlankSpots!

lars' transport world Oct 8, 2025

#Porto is now a very popular tourist destination. I'm sure you've seen lots of pictures of it already, so we'll focus on public transport. 👀 #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 8, 2025

Well, what is this strange train? Let's find out the next day #BlankSpots!

lars' transport world Oct 8, 2025

The next morning, I find a train made up of four old CP wagons waiting for me on the platform at Porto Campanhã. Many others and I were looking forward to a picturesque ride on the Linha da Douro. Judging by the conversations ("What country's national railways are called Renfe? Wasn't it Portugal?"), I assume that not only rail enthusiasts are present. (1/5) #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 8, 2025

Did I say 'train'? Well, that's not the case yet. First, let's couple the coaches to this diesel locomotive. Then we can set off on the picturesque Linha de Douro. (2/5) #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 8, 2025

One hour after leaving Porto Campanha, our train finally arrives at the River Douro. The landscape gradually changes from green to... less green. (3/5) #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 8, 2025

These days, the Linha do Douro ends at Pocinho. The section to Spain closed in 1988. So, it's time to head back. At the intermediate stations, additional assengers board, carrying wine boxes. (4/5) #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 9, 2025

Life is better with #FensterAuf, at least sometimes! (5/5) #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 9, 2025

After arriving back at Porto Campanhã station, my first ever ride on the Alfa Pendular train is about to begin. It is a modern, fast train with many passengers waiting for the weekend, and unfortunately I couldn't take a picture. Something reminds me of Stockholm, but what? I'm heading south through the mist along the coast. 🔊: "Nästa: Coimbra-B" #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 9, 2025

Impressions of Coimbra #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 9, 2025

Unfortunately, Coimbra-A station, the terminus, closed in January 2025. Coimbra-B, which is located on the outskirts of the city, is therefore the only remaining station. However, it seems that the closed railway line will be used for a future BRT system connecting the city to Coimbra-B. This seems like a very good idea, given the congestion on the streets. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

The Linha do Vouga is Portugal's last metre-gauge railway line. I head back north to Aveiro, but luck is not on my side today. For some reason, all day long, trains are being replaced by buses. With my plans having fallen through, I head back to Coimbra. At least I get the chance to take my first Intercidades ride. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

The next day is #Intercidades day! Starting in Coimbra-B, the Linha da Beira Alta is the first of two lines on today's programme. The upper section, which begins at Santa Comba Dão, offers particularly picturesque views of the rolling hills. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

Three #CP #Intercidades trains run daily on the Linha de Beira Alta, from Lisbon to Guarda and back. These comprise three modernised Sorefame carriages, one of which is a café and first-class carriage.
As with all Intercidades trains, it is mandatory to reserve a seat, which costs €5 for an #Interrail pass and can only be purchased at Portuguese ticket desks. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

Guarda is the terminus for both the Intercidades services on the Linha da Beira Alta and the Linha da Beira Baixa. There are two Regional trains a day that run further to Vilar Formoso on the border, but there are no connecting trains to Spain. In any case, it's time to disembark and bridge the transfer time. If I had enough time, I could visit the old town of Guarda, which is located 150 metres higher than the station. I wonder if there's a bus from Guarda staziun to Guarda cumün. 🤭 #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

The second #CP #Intercidades train today is the Guarda–Lisbon service, which runs via the Linha de Beira Baixa. This is the first chance to take a photo of a complete Intercidades train. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

Ah, the joys of compulsory seat reservation! #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

The views along the Linha de Beira Baixa are charming. It runs along the eastern edge of the Serra da Estrela. However, the train journey could be better. The air conditioning doesn't work, so hot October air is blown into the train. A passenger closed one of the four emergency windows, so there is no fresh air flow. The locomotive made five full stops in the middle of nowhere. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

For some reason, our #Intercidades Guarda-Lisbon stops at Barca da Amieira - Envendos for about thirty minutes. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

With a delay of about 50 minutes, I arrive at Lisboa Oriente. I finally want to check in at my hotel and skip the station review. However, the departure of my connecting Urbano is delayed by another 15 minutes. Consequently, it gets very crowded. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 11

A tourist in #Lisbon doing Lisbon tourist things... #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 12

Two days later, at Entrecampos station again. The displays and announcements aren't working and one Urbano train after another serves or passes the station. After about 35 minutes of waiting, my #Intercidades train to Faro finally arrives and the screens start working again. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 12

In the end, the #Intercidades train from Lisbon to Faro is delayed by around 45 minutes. There are lots of international tourists on the train, all seeking the sun in southern Portugal. The beautiful scenery is passing by, but the journey still feels rather slow. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 12

The connecting regional train from Faro to Vila Real de Santo António has been delayed by more than 45 minutes waiting for the Intercidades train from Lisbon. I get off at an intermediate stop and spent a couple of days doing normal tourist things. 🏖 #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 12

Impressions of the 🇵🇹 Linha do Algarve 😊
Electrification work on the line was finished in June 2025, so I am wondering how long the #CP class 0450 DMU will remain operational here. Taking pictures and travelling along the line proved very nerve-racking, as there were delays of more than 40 minutes every day. Pictures that were supposed to be taken before sunset had to be taken afterwards. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 13

The Lagos station marks the westernmost point of the Linha do Algarve, making it the most southwesterly railway station in Europe! I never would have thought that I could find plant-based kanelbullar and kardemummabullar nearby. 🤯 #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 13

It's time to head back north and say goodbye to the blue 0450 DMUs I've grown used to. A regional train will take me to Faro, where I'll have to wait for my Intercidades train. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 13

Over the past 10 days, I have grown to love the #CP #Intercidades train. This Faro–Lisbon train is almost my last Intercidades on this trip. The Corail and Sorefame coaches create a cosy atmosphere. The only annoying thing is buying seat reservations for my Interrail pass at the stations. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 14

The next day begins as the previous one ended: With an Intercidades train at Lisboa-Oriente station. The platform is crowded with international tourists travelling to Porto. As usual, there is chaos while boarding. Passengers unfamiliar with rail travel wander through the train with heavy luggage, looking for their seats. Some even mistake the ticket price for their seat number. The lack of some coach numbers doesn't make things easier. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world

I'm getting off at Entroncamento. I have travelled halfway back up Portugal, but it is time to change direction now. Unfortunately, there is no time to visit the national rail museum. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

Now, this is insane! 🤯 A single railcar resembling a Teletubby runs between 🇵🇹 Entroncamento and 🇪🇦 Badajoz twice a day. This regional train is part of the only direct route between Lisbon and Madrid. The journey between these two cities takes more than 8.5 hours by train. The train is crowded with both local and long-distance travellers. Hopefully, things will improve soon with the opening of the new high-speed line between Évora and Badajoz. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

It's time for me to say goodbye to 🇵🇹 #Portugal. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

The welcome in Badajoz is cold. The connecting train to Madrid is waiting with open doors on the track opposite. However, three grim Adif guards positioned along the platform ensure that noone boards the train. Instead, everyone walks the length of the platform to the station building, only to return to the same platform after showing their ticket. I find it hard to understand. Either design your station to be suitable for access control, or abolish it! I'm glad I can call it a day. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

Badajoz might not be well known outside the world of train travellers. It is a nice city with a pleasant old town. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

The next morning, I'm on the same platform at Badajoz again. My Alvia to Madrid was due to leave at 07:21, and for the first time in a while, my journey was beginning in complete darkness. I was very surprised when I realised that this was a bimodal high-speed train! Only the section between Badajoz and Plasencia is electrified. As it is an Iberian-gauge train, it arrives at Atocha Cercanías. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

At Madrid Atocha-Cercanías station, there are overhead network diagrams showing which trains are departing from each platform! 😍 #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

My journey home continues swiftly. An #AVE train takes me from Madrid to Girona. My first-class carriage is less than half full. I'm surprised that lunch is served for free! This is my fifth time travelling in first class on an AVE, and I've never experienced that before. Four hours after boarding in Madrid, I arrive at Girona's underground station. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

In the old town of Girona 🌙 #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

There isn't much time for rest; the journey continues the following morning. Girona means: Rodalies de Catalunya. While I appreciate the frequent trains, they are not very comfortable, with hard seats and sometimes a 3+2 seating configuration. Nevertheless, it is a charming trip on an almost empty train to Portbou. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 15

Border stations have a unique character! 😍 Two rail systems connect with each other. The infrastructure seems oversized for modern purposes. Abandoned facilities tell stories of a busy past. This is certainly true of Portbou station. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 16

My #BlankSpots trip is entering France for the fourth and final time! A TER train takes me to Narbonne. There are more people than I expected on this eight-coach TER train. I suspect it is due to the very poor number of TGV/AVE services crossing the Spanish–French border. However, the ride is scenic, taking me along the coast and through the étangs. 🦩

lars' transport world Oct 16

Using your phone on loudspeaker on a "train liO"? 👉 €150 fine. While I am not a fan of restrictive fines, I do appreciate the clear statement against ignorance towards other passengers in this case. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 16

At Narbonne station, there are plenty of ticket machines for long-distance and regional trains, as well as job application machines... 🤯 #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 16

As on the way to Spain, the slogan for the journey back to Switzerland is #ÉviterLesTGV. I'm taking the TER from Narbonne to Avignon. It's a classic AGC ride along the Mediterranean coast to the Rhône delta. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 16

They are dancing there, they are dancing there. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 17

The next day, a new TER. I've lost track of the remaining Corail TER services, but I know my Avignon–Valence train is one of them. It even comes with a 'Nez Cassé'. 😊 I'm trying to catch up on some rest on this comfortable, albeit slightly dirty, train. Between Pierrelatte and Montélimar, the line runs alongside the Rhône for a short while. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 17

It's time for a change in Valence-Ville. As I'm still avoiding the TGV, it's time for another TER. And, what a surprise, it's a Corail train hauled by a Nez-Cassé again! 😉 The sunny Mediterranean weather has given way to misty autumn weather on my way to Annecy. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 17

Annecy was never really on my bucket list, but it was for many other tourists, and with good reason. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 17

The presence of the Léman Express and Swiss trains in Annecy makes it clear that the Swiss border is nearby. I board the TER/RL2 service bound for 🇨🇭 Coppet. However, it always feels wrong to use an Interrail pass instead of my GA to board an SBB regional train. #BlankSpots

lars' transport world Oct 19

Well, it's time to trick myself into not coming home. I'm still trying to take some #BlankSpots with me. At Annemasse, I'll change to a TER train bound for Évian-les-Bains. This is one of the closest railway lines to Switzerland that I have never travelled on before. In fact, it used to lead into Switzerland, but the section east of Évian-les-Bains is now closed. The ride in the vestibule takes 40 minutes.

Patrick O'Beirne Oct 17

@larstransportworld
Try it during the Venetian style festival.

Jörn Nettingsmeier Oct 16

@larstransportworld Bordeaux?

lars' transport world Oct 16

@nettings Non, "sur le pont d'Avignon" 🤭

Cycling on Rails Oct 17

@larstransportworld Unfortunately, the fine is still higher for a train passenger playing music than for a car driver using their phone behind the steering wheel: 150€ vs. 90€ (increased to 135€ if not paid within 2 weeks): https://www.securite-routiere.gouv.fr/reglementation-liee-aux-risques/reglementation-du-telephone-au-volant (archive: https://archive.is/7qm8P)

Not saying any of these behaviors is fine, but French transport laws set a double standard between car and train users. 😬 Other example: forgotten luggage in the train vs. speeding on the road https://mastodon.social/@cycling_on_rails/114748821811333910

butterfly_lesbian

@larstransportworld I'm surprised tbh, my experience is with Basel HB mainly which is as busy as can be. It really feels too small for the amount of passengers. If we take the inland stations that provide a good amount of international trains, Bern HB is also a bit crowded for the amount of people. The only one that feels right is Zürich HB. I find it amazing I can just do one train change in Bern or Zürich and end up anywhere from Paris to Hamburg to Milano to Vienna. It's such an amazing comfort.

Why do you think other spots are less popular? Those international stations are so fucking amazing...

lars' transport world Oct 16

@Noxie Certainly, I didn't mean Basel SBB. Apparently, it's the biggest border station in Europe! Of course, my toot was a pointed statement and doesn't apply to every border station, especially those in cities (e.g. also Geneva). The loss/reduction of facilities specific to border stations is less apparent there. However, I think it's the case for smaller stations such as Bayrisch Eisenstein, Gouvy, Jesenice, Latour-de-Carol, Longwy, Nova Gorica, (formerly) Puttgarden, Vallorbe, Villa Opicina.

butterfly_lesbian

@larstransportworld Vallorbe being the one I know best it's indeed quite deserted. Tho the question remains. IMO it's not really that border stations are getting deserted it's more that the visitors are more centralised. In the hay days of Vallorbe the region was quite popular with its retreats and all. but I think the main issue was manual signalling on railways. There's no fucking way a station like Lausanne could handle more than a quarter of the train traffic without electronic signalings. When everything got electonised it was like making all the stations 4x bigger overnight pretty much. That means the actual destinations of those border stations visitors suddenly became accessible. Nobody wanna be in Gorizia, they were going to Venice or Milano. Today we have the tech and the capacity to run a Ljubljana - Milano directly.

The ones that survived are the ones that are also destinations.

That's my theory as to why they became useless.

Oh and Schengen did a LOT to allow long distance direct trains too

lars' transport world Oct 17

@Noxie Probably we are talking past each other. Yes, Schengen and direct (high-speed) trains concentrated the rail network on fewer long-distance lines without changing at the border. That's exactly my point!
This and the fact that many of the old border stations are located in less populated areas are the reasons, why there are only a few passengers in the waiting halls at the old border stations, noone goes through customs etc. I am not talking about the capacity in terms of trains.

Moof! 🔜 #JetLagTheGame NL Oct 15

@larstransportworld you should return in early-to-mid May. There is a festival of flowers, where all the old town is bedecked in different flower arrangements, and some of the old buildings are opened up and themed.

you can search for "girona temp de flors"

Jon Worth Oct 15

@larstransportworld Normally Interrailers in 1st don't get it, they have a list for who is entitled.

lars' transport world Oct 15

@jon Thank you, that seems plausible.

@larstransportworld @jon Nowadays you can also as Interrail traveller, but you have to pay a more expensive reservation, Premium, not First (or Confort).

Minka ミンカ Oct 15

@larstransportworld Oh hey! That's where I live! Please enjoy my city and have a stroll around the old town and along the river(s), it's beautiful! Ask me if you want recommendations of places to visit.

lars' transport world Oct 15

@minka Ooh, thank you! I am tooting with delay again. I have left Girona already, since I have to be home soon. However, I did stroll round in the old town and along the river Onyar and I liked it. 😊

Minka ミンカ Oct 16

@larstransportworld Thank you so much for visiting! Please come back again whenever you like

@larstransportworld Did you get a Confort reservation? Lunch/Dinner is included in the Confort reservation (there should be Aimuerzo or Cena on the ticket somewhere)

lars' transport world Oct 15

@spaetzlesmasher There is indeed 'Aimuerzo' on the ticket! I have no idea what kind of ticket I've got because I could only choose 1st or 2nd. But it's stated "AVE *TRAIN NUMBER* CONFORT", so I guess it was a Confort reservation. Booking was a pain anyway, as I could book the seats only on Happyrail, but not with Interrail or Raileurope.

@larstransportworld What actually blew my mind is that these trainsets were built in the 1950s! They were modernized (obviously) at some point in the 2000s but the basic structure is still over 70 years old.

lars' transport world Oct 15

@leon Oh, so they are even older than the class 0450 DMU from the 1960s! 🤯

@larstransportworld I remember this adorable little thing heh

rail 🦊Oct 14

@larstransportworld going on the regional train to Badajoz?

lars' transport world Oct 15

@rail Exactly 😁

rail 🦊Oct 15

@larstransportworld i loved that ride

Views are amazing and the rolling stock was surprisingly comfy for that class of connection