Schelte

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I like travelling by train, particularly towards Spain. Here for train content and other random stuff 🚋🚄🚆🚂
LanguagesDutch, Spanish, English, French & a tiny bit of German.
Trains:renfe: :ns: :sncb: :sncf: :db: :oebb: :italo: :iryo: :ouigo: :abellio: :arriva: :avanti: :bls: :cd_rail: :cff: :cfl: :connexxion: :cp: :eurostar: :euskotren: :fart: : :fgc: :fs: :gwr: :ie: :hsb: :zssk: :zb: :xc: :sob_rail: :sz: :northern: :qbuzz: :thalys
SchelteDec 19, 2023

Yesterday we took the metre gauge railway from Cercedilla to Cotos, a line that celebrated its 100th anniversary this year (1923-2023). This line is part of the Cercanías Madrid network, but is the only metre-gauge one.

In Cotos, the ticket prices from January 1999 are still displayed (in pesetas).

SchelteDec 17, 2023

One of the notoriously difficult interrail reservations is the AVE's from France to Spain. Officially these can only be booked at Renfe ticket offices, pretty unhelpful considering the train leaves from France and Renfe has no ticket offices outside Spain, but it seems train managers are able to sell reservations too and are willing to accept passengers travelling in the bar if the train is fully booked. At least, that is what I was told today.

I didn't need it - I am lucky enough to have family in Spain who managed to get a reservation for me.

SchelteSep 8, 2023
Cutie 
Show threadSchelteAug 19, 2023
Same seems to have happened in Cantabria (Santander) and Vizcaya (Bilbao)
Show threadSchelteAug 19, 2023
And the map now combines both narrow and broad gauge networks again.
Show threadSchelteAug 19, 2023
The Renfe Cercanías app now also lists narrow gauge timetables.
SchelteAug 18, 2023
Renfe and Feve Cercanías fares have been integrated, at least in Asturias! About time though, as Feve was merged into Renfe 10 years ago.
SchelteJul 9, 2023

Now that Interrail reservations for Spain can also be made through the Interrail portal, I had to try that out, and it does work. Reservations are only available in Standard and Comfort (not Premium).

Prices include a €2 booking fee. Renfe ticket offices charge a 5.5% booking fee, DB somehow offers cheaper reservations in 1st class (and doesn't charge a booking fee)
Alvia: €8.60 / €12
AVE: €12/ €15
Euromed: €12 (only available in 2nd class?)
Intercity/Avant/MD/...: Not available

Tickets are emitted as Renfe e-tickets, with Eurail listed as a virtual travel agent.

Show threadSchelteMay 6, 2023
In León, I managed to help some French tourists who were struggling to communicate with the Renfe ticket office staff: they only spoke French and wanted to get to San Sebastián tomorrow, but the only option offered by Renfe (the Alvia to Vitoria + an Intercity) was sold out. I helped them get tickets for the AVE to Palencia tomorrow morning (09:50-10:23, €14.50), followed by the MD from Palencia to San Sebastián (12:29-16:30, €20 deposit with the temporary "free" passes, don't expect them to do 16 trips to get the deposit back but it was considerably cheaper than a one way), and they were very happy with being able to get there.
SchelteMay 6, 2023
I've only posted the train content over here, but Cáceres was beautiful, and the roman remains in Mérida are spectacular too. Our day in Porto was spoiled a bit by rain, but overall, I love Portugal. The trip from Monforte all the way to Asturias got a bit long, particularly as it involves a 3.5 hour stop in León where after having lunch, we mostly spent waiting. I did go to the Feve station, which - other than some fences suggesting they're working on something - hasn't changed since I was last there in 2019.