Trip to Spain - August 2025
General Notes
Five days travelling the railways in northern Spain.
Numbers/letters in [square brackets] are platform identifiers. Some stations with both broad gauge and metre gauge platforms use duplicate platform numbers, so these stations are marked (RENFE) and (FEVE) to distinguish them.
Operating Company Abbreviations and Details
- ADIF - Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (national railway infrastructure manager)
- FEVE - Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha (Narrow Gauge Railways); RENFE FEVE from 2013, now Renfe Cecanías AM (Ancho Metrico).
- RENFE - Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (national train operator in Spain)
Track gauge
RENFE trains are broad (1668 mm) gauge unless otherwise stated: gauge-changing trains are listed individually. FEVE trains are metre gauge. All other trains, metros and trams are standard gauge unless otherwise stated. Standard gauge: 1435 mm; metre gauge: 1000 mm.
| Place | Arrive | Depart | Train | Traction details & notes |
Thursday 7 August 2025
| Timperley | 05:12 | - | Taxi | |
| Manchester Airport T3 (MAN) | 05:24 | 07:05 | FR9844 | Ryanair EI-DHZ B737-8AS push-back from gate 53 06:59, take-off 07:10 from runway 23L |
| Santander Airport (SDR) | 10:10 | landed 09:48 on runway 29, on stand 09:52 | ||
| Airport bus stop | 10:40 | 'S4' | ALSA bus | |
| Santander bus station | 10:50 | arr 14 late | ||
| Santander (RENFE) | 13:58 [2] | Alvia 4142 | RENFE ALVIA class 130 set 02 (broad gauge) | |
| Via Torrelavega (14:25 [1]) - Osorno (15:51/16:03, cross train) - Palencia (16:28/16:30 [1A]) - noted Villamuriel de Cerrato gauge changer is still very much inaccessible - short curve - Venta de Baños (16:40) - left hand running - Valladolid-Campo Grande (17:01/17:03 [4], dep 8 late; station congestion) - cross to left track at Pinar de Antequera - Valdestillas gauge changer (17:30-31, change to standard gauge) - stop clear (17:32/17:35) - cross to right track (17:38) | ||||
| Madrid Chamartín | 18:14 [24] | arr 14 late | ||
| Chamartín | 19:24 | '1' | Madrid metro | |
| Pinar de Chamartín | 19:27 | 19:40 | 'ML1' | Madrid light rail/tram 134 |
| Las Tablas | 19:56 | 20:00 | '10' | Madrid metro |
| Hospital Infanta Sofia | 20:15 | 10:26 | '10' | Madrid metro |
| Tres Olivos | 20:50 | 20:56 | '10' | Madrid metro |
| Chamartín | 21:03 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Valdestillas gauge changer and connections; Madrid tram route ML1. | ||||
| Overnight: Overnight Hotel Chamartin The One. | ||||
| Notes: Today's primary aim was the gauge changer at Valdestillas, which is on a long 2 km connection south of Valdestillas station. This was open for regular traffic from 2007 until July 2022 but unfortunately I never got the chance to cover it. Unlike many gauge changers that have lost their primary usage, it has been retained, I suspect for occasional stock moves. However due to long term engineering works south of Palencia, the gauge changer there (named Villamuriel de Cerrato) is inaccessible, so Santander - Madrid services are using Valdestillas instead. This change was understood to be in place from September 2024 to September 2025, but there is still a lot of work to be done, I would say at least six months more. There are frequently delays getting through Valladolid-Campo Grande, it is quite a restricted layout with three standard gauge (numbered 1 to 3) and two broad gauge (4 and 5) through platforms. Knowing the platform arrangement is useful, as the ADIF app or website show which platform numbers are used by individual trains, so you can tell whether a train will be using the broad gauge or standard gauge platforms. After checking into the hotel I visited a bit more of the Madrid metro system including 'tram' route ML1 (Metros Ligeros de Madrid, line 1). |
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Friday 8 August 2025
| Madrid Chamartín | 09:15 [19] | Alvia 4091 | RENFE ALVIA class 130 set 25 (standard gauge) dep 10 late | |
| Via Valladolid (10:16/10:18 [3] arr 8 late/dep 16 late) - Venta de Baños - long curve - Palencia (10:43/10:45 [5] arr 13 late/dep 13 late) - Villada (11:14/11:19, cross train then cross to right track) - León (11:29/11:32 [4], arr 15 late/dep 16 late, reverse) - León Clasificación gauge changer (11:52, change to broad gauge) - stop near south end of yard (11:56/11:59 , reverse) - León (12:02/12:03 [11], set down second driver) - Bif. Galicia (12:06, stay on left track) - La Pola (12:36, brief stop) - Pajares tunnel route - Villallana – Ujo tunnel route - Ujo - Mieres-Puento (cross immediately before station to eastmost platform track (12:38/12:40, arr 7 late/de 8 late) - facing crossover at km 121.5, cross to west track to cross local train - Ablaña (12:52/12:53, cross to east track) - Olloniego station route - cross to west track - Soto de Rey (13:03 [1]) - Oviedo (12:55/12:58 [1], arr 16 late/dep 18 late) - Villabona de Asturias (13:27 [4]) - left track | ||||
| Avilés (RENFE) | 13:22 [1] | 14:11 [1] | 'C-3' | arr 23 late RENFE EMU 463 013 |
| San Juan de Nieva | 14:14 [1] | 14:17 [1] | 'C-3' | RENFE EMU 463 013 dep 5 late |
| Avilés (RENFE) | 14:21 [1] | arr 5 late | ||
| Avilés (FEVE) | 14:31 | 'C-4' | FEVE EMU 3316/3315 | |
| Gijón (FEVE) | 15:18 [2] | |||
| Gijón (RENFE) | 15:33 [1] | 'C-1' | RENFE EMU 463 201 | |
| Via Oviedo (RENFE) [1] - Olloniego | ||||
| Mieres-Puente | 16:28 [2] | |||
| Mieres-Vasco | 16:44 [4] | 'C-8' | FEVE DR 2901 | |
| Baíña | 16:58 [1] | 17:03 [1] | 'C-8' | FEVE DR 2901 |
| Collanzo | 18:05 | 18:18 | 'C-8' | FEVE DR 2901 |
| Ujo-Teruelo | 18:57 | |||
| Walk to Ujo station via village | ||||
| Ujo | 20:16 [1] | 'C-1' | RENFE EMU 463 010 via Olloniego tunnel route | |
| Oviedo (RENFE) | 20:45 [1] | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Villabona de Asturias - Avilés - San Juan de Nieva; Aboño - Gijón and Mieres-Vasco - Collanzo (metre gauge). | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Favila Oviedo (1st of 2 nights) | ||||
| Notes: Straight back 'up north'. Alvia 4091 is half of the one train pair per day that runs through from Madrid to the Asturian port town of Avilés, useful as the branch to Avilés and on to San Juan de Nieva was my last 'required' broad gauge line in that area. Engineering work on the high speed line south of León meant that the gauge changer normally used by these Asturias services, at León Villecha, is currently inaccessible. The high speed line here was laid with only single track on a double track formation; the second track is now being laid. This means that a double reversal is needed south of León to allow use of the León Clasificación gauge changer. Back to Avilés from San Juan de Nieva and a quick 'trot' up and over the very high and long footbridge to get to the FEVE metre gauge platforms for a train to Gijón - I 'required' the last section from Aboño into Gijón as I had done the non-passenger line from Aboño to Sotiello on a railtour in November 2023. Finally for the day a trip on the FEVE non-electrified line to Collanzo, which we were unable to cover on the November 2023, only getting as far as Mieres. The branch diesel service runs between Baíña, a wayside halt three stops north of Mieres, and Collanzo, so full coverage of the line has been acheived. |
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Saturday 9 August 2025
| Oviedo (RENFE) | 09:29 [2] | 'C-2' | RENFE EMU 463 003 | |
| El Entrego | 10:08 [1] | walk to | ||
| L'Entregu-La Escura | 10:43 [1] | 'C-5' | FEVE EMU 3638/3637 via new tunnel alignment at Langreo | |
| El Berrón | 11:17 [5] | 11:46 [3] | 'C-6' | FEVE EMU 3632/3631 |
| Oviedo (FEVE) | 12:05 [1] | 14:44 [2] | 71833 | FEVE DMU 2720/2719+2734/2733 |
| Via Pola de Siero (15:15/15:18 [4], cross special EMU working) - Infiesta (16 08/16:11 [2], dep 7 late, late crossing) - Arriondas (16:42/16:43 [1], dep 14 late, filled up with canoe enthusiasts; note FEVE EDL 1905 was stabled here) - Llovio (17:06 [3], dep 22 late; viewed FEVE EDL 1914+1917 on special train) | ||||
| Ribadesella | 17:11 [1] | arr 23 late | ||
| Walk to Ribadesella Puerto line and back | ||||
| Ribadesella | 18:37 [6] | 71852 | FEVE DMU 2733/2734+2719/2720 dep 56 late | |
| Via Arriondas (19:07 [1], dep 59 late, filled up with canoe enthusiasts) - Infiesto (19:40 [3], dep 70 late) - Nava (20:07 [2], arr 65 late; evacuated train due to 2734 being full of smoke; 2734 engine shut down; after much discussion, all passengers moved into 2719/2720; dep 101 late) - El Berrón (20:42 [2], dep 98 late) | ||||
| Oviedo (FEVE) | 21:01 [4] | arr 97 late Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: new tunnel alignment at Langreo. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Favila Oviedo (2nd of 2 nights) | ||||
| Notes: This long weekend was planned around the huge annual river canoe race between Arriondas and Ribadesella, and the traversal by a special train Tren Fluvial of the branch from Llovio to Ribadesella Puerto (Port). Unfortunately despite numerous emails I was unable to purchase a ticket in advance, so was unable to found out exactly when it was going to run. The normal service trains on the Oviedo - Ribadesella - Santander metre gauge line also booked out very qucikly, though I did get tickets well in advance via the RENFE app for the 14:44 from Oviedo and the 18:37 return. One problem was that the Tren Fluvial did not appear in the ADIF app so I could not find at what time it was running - by accident I saw it, from a distance, depart Oviedo at about 07:30, far earlier than I anticipated. The FEVE booking office at Oviedo confirmed that all trains towards Ribadesella were 'full', including the extra service trains that had been laid on. With time to wait before getting the 14:44, I had time to fit in the realignment of the metre gauge Laviana line through the Langreo area. This I covered by getting a RENFE train to El Entrego, walking over the river to the FEVE station and getting a FEVE train back. I had done the line in 2021 when the basic construction work was complete but no track had been laid or altered. I arranged to have some spare time at El Berrón to take some more photos at the excellent 'grand junction' railway crossroads there. The 14:44 started to lose time as it was delayed at crossing points due to late running of both normal and special service trains. At Arriondas, rather as I expected, the train filled up to much more than capacity with canoe enthusiasts, who like me got off the train at Ribadesella's main station, above the town. I was able to observe the Tren Fluvial at Llovio, being prepared for its return towards Oviedo, and I could see from the state of the rail surface on the Port branch that it had been used. At Ribadesella I had time to walk down to the branch where it runs past the bus station, and again could see that it had seen some recent use. Back Ribadesella's main station in time for the 18:37 departure, it soon became clear that it was running very late and getting later. A special working arrived from Arriondas (an EMU, which was interesting: the line from Oviedo to Ribadesella is electrified but there are no regular electric workings east of Infiesta) then blocked the normal platform 1. Eventually the 18:37 arrived, nearly an hour late, in the very rare (judging by the rusty rails) platform 6. More time was lost as another big load of passengers boarded at Arriondas. As we were arriving at Nava, a group of passengers from the rear part of the DMU I was travelling in rushed forward shouting to the driver; then everyone got off the train. The rear part of the front set was full of smoke, I assume from an overheating engine or transmission. The driver stopped the engines on the DMU and the smoke eventually cleared. With the faulty engine isolated and all passengers in the rear set we eventually continued, arriving at Oviedo 97 minutes late.... |
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Sunday 10 August 2025
| Oviedo (RENFE) | 08:30 [1] | C-3 | RENFE EMU 463 012 called at works staff halt | |
| Avilés (RENFE) | 09:08 [1] | 09:51 [1] | C-3 | RENFE EMU 463 012 called at works staff halt |
| Oviedo (RENFE) | 10:28 [2] | 11:27 [2] | AVE 5750 | RENFE AVE class 106 set 58 (broad gauge) |
| Via Olloniego station route - Ujo tunnel route - Pajares tunnel route - cross to right track north of Bif Galicias - León (12:38 [11], brief stop to pick up driver) - reverse at south end of yard - León Clasificación gauge changer (change to standard gauge) - León (12:46/12:51 [4], arr/dep 10 late) - Palencia (13:34 [5], dep 5 late) - short curve at Venta de Baños | ||||
| Valladolid-Campo Grande | 13:56 [1] | walk around Valladolid and Campo Grande park | ||
| Valladolid-Campo Grande | 18:43 [3] | Alvia 4267 | RENFE ALVIA EMU class 120 sets 58+57 (standard gauge) dep 12 late | |
| Via Burgos (19:31 [6], dep 9 late; via gauge changer to broad gauge) - cross to right track before Pancorbo | ||||
| * Miranda de Ebro | 20:29 [4] | 20:43 [4] | Alvia 4267 | RENFE ALVIA EMU class 120 set 57 |
| Via short curve - Llodio (21:58 [1], dep 7 late) | ||||
| Bilbao-Abando | 22:21 [8] | arr 17 late Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Mirande de Ebro short curve onto Bilbao line. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Abando, Bilbao | ||||
| Notes: I had spare time to go to Avilés and back, partly because it was quite an interesting line and partly because the double track route had several pairs of single line tunnels. Time for some photos of the port area at Avilés. My train from Oviedo to Valladolid was one of the horrible AVE class 106 sets; again we did the double reversal to get through the León Clasificación gauge changer. I had loads of time spare at Valladolid so walked into town for some lunch then back via the extensive park known as Campo Grande ("large field"). I spent some time here photographing the wildlife - including many types of duck and goose enjoying the pools and fountains, a few peacocks and a red squirrel - in plenty of shade from the hot sun. Finally for the day a carefully selected train to Bilbao that covers the "short curve" at Miranda de Ebro - this generally requires use of platforms numbered 4 or lower. My train was booked for a pair of Alvia units splitting at Miranda for Bilbao and San Sebastián - I had spotted that these must use platform 4 or lower, hence the Bilbao portion must use the short curve - when passing though on the San Sebastián portion of this train in November 2023. |
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Monday 11 August 2025
| Bilbao-Abando | 09:12 [1] | 'C-2' | RENFE EMU 446 079 set | |
| Muskiz | 09:51 | 10:08 | 'C-2' | RENFE EMU 446 079 set |
| Bilbao-Abando | 10:48 [2] | |||
| Abando | 11:36 | 'T1' | Bilbao tram 502 (metre gauge) | |
| Guggenheim | 11:41 | |||
| Alameda Recalde 11 | 12:05 | 'A3247' | Bizkaibus | |
| Bilbao Airport | 12:16 | |||
| Bilbao Airport (BIO) | 15:00 | EZY2006 | Easyjet G-EZUT A320-214 push-back from gate B16 15:55, take-off 16:04 from runway 30 | |
| Manchester Airport (MAN) | 16:00 | landed 16:42 on runway 23R, on stand 11 16:45 | ||
| Manchester Airport | 17:04 [5] | TransPennine Express EMU 397 012 dep 5 late | ||
| Manchester Oxford Road | 17:23 [2] | walk to | ||
| St Peters Square | 17:52 | - | Metrolink tram 30??+ 30?? | |
| Timperley | 18:18 | Today's photos | ||
| New passenger track today: Desertu-Barakaldo - Muskiz. | ||||
| Notes: Time before my flight home to cover the broad gauge branch to Muskiz: I had covered the other Bilbao area broad gauge branch, to Santurtzi, on a railtour in November 2021. I was surprised at how rural much of the Muskiz line was: into the hills west of Bilbao. Muskiz station building was a rather fine example in the "Swiss Chalet" style (Beasain is another example). Back to the hotel for another shower and check out before getting the tram to the Guggenheim museum - I wanted some photos of the trams there. Also close to a bus stop on the A3247 route to the airport. First time via Bilbao airport, easy enough to get to on the bus. I was in plenty of time but then the flight was delayed for various reasons. |
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| Summary: very disappointing not to have done the Ribadesella Puerto branch, but I put the fault firmly in the court of the RENFE Asturias staff who basically gave me incorrect information on several occasions, and by the time I got some correct answers it was too late and train was fully booked. I shall know better next time..... However I wanted to head to this area anyway to cover the Valdestillas gauge changer, and I was able to fit in a number of other requirements as well, so overall it was a good weekend away. Tickets used: Thursday, Friday and Sunday: three day first class senior InterRail for the main line trains, with reservations booked on the RailEurope web site - the latter being much better than the RENFE or InterRail websites in several respects. Though the InterRail should be valid for the Cercanías (suburban) services, in practice there is no way to get in and out of the stations as the ticket barriers don't read the InterRail code, and there are usually no staff on hand to assist. I shall be contacting InterRail to see if they can help improve this situation. Weather: pleasantly warm near the coast in the temperate climate there (this isn't called "green Spain" for no reason), 20 to 25 C and mostly overcast. Madrid and Valladolid were very hot and sunny at around 40 C but low humidity. Bilbao was very hot (over 30 C) and humid on the Monday morning. I wouldn't normally plan to travel to Spain at this time of year, but I can't move the date of the canoe race! |