Spain - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

@@ THIS IS WORK IN PROGRESS!! GWB 4/12/2010 @@

Introduction

This list is based on the timetable in effect in December 2010. Because RENFE does not publish a printed national railway timetable, table numbers refer to those in the "European Timetable" published by Thomas Cook unless marked with the name of a RENFE Cercanias network, in which case it is the route number shown on the relevant Cercanias network map. Standard abbreviations used are explained in the General Information document. @ LINK REQD

Coverage is currently limited to lines known to the compilers, who would welcome information on other services that may warrant inclusion.

Obscure services

La Pereda Riosa – Soto de Rey

[685] (3A3, partly shown) ES11/1

South of Soto de Rey (El Portazgo) triangle, there are two separate reversibly signalled single tracks following different routes: the longer via the river valley, serving Olloniego station; the shorter via the 2.6 km "new tunnel" (number 83 bis) with no intermediate station. The longer route must be used by those Regionales and Cercanías C-1 trains booked to call at Olloniego; other trains tend to use the "new tunnel" route - although either route can be used if required for train regulation purposes.

Note: Table 685 does not list Cercanias services

Villallana – Ujo

[685] (3B3, partly shown) ES11/2

There are two separate reversibly signalled single tracks (without intermediate stations) following different routes: the original (and longer) via the river valley and the shorter via the 2.5 km "new tunnel" (number 81 bis) further west. Normally all northbound trains run via the tunnel, and southbound Cercanías trains via the old route.

Note: Table 685 does not list Cercanias services

El Berrón curves

(FEVE) [Asturias F5, F6] (3A3, not shown) ES11/3

The Oviedo - Santander and Gijón - Laviana lines cross here on the level. Two of the three connecting curves are used by passenger trains:

• @ check north <=> curve for new Gijon -> ?? services
• the west <=> north curve is used by (i) a daily Oviedo - Noreña "shuttle" service; for times see FEVE website (www.feve.es/horarios_tmp/1031-1032.pdf ) and (ii) non-stop Oviedo - Gijón services (www.feve.es/horarios_tmp/5001-5002.pdf). .
• the west <=> south curve is used Mondays to Fridays only by four Laviana - Oviedo round trips; for times see FEVE website (www.feve.es/horarios_tmp/1033-1034.pdf and look for services highlighted in yellow, denoting “Laborables de lunes a viernes, directo”.

Llovio – Ribadesella Puerto

(FEVE) (4A2, not shown) ES11/4

This branch is used usually on the first Saturday in August each year (@?? August 2011) for an excursion (Tren Fluvial) from Oviedo in connection with the annual river raft race - La Fiesta de las Piraguas - from Arriondas (starting at noon) to Ribadesella. See @CHECK URL www.spain.info/vive/fiestas/asturias/fiesta_de_las_piraguas_descenso_internacional_del_sella.html?l=en.

Note: these trains are very popular and prior reservation is essential. The 2003 timings were: 08:15 Oviedo - Arriondas and 10:00 Ribadesella Puerto - Arriondas forming approx. 12:15 Arriondas - Ribadesella Puerto; 14:30 Ribadesella Puerto - Llovio [- Arriondas - Oviedo].

Amorebieta Echano – Amorebieta Geralekua

(EuskoTren) (5B1) ES11/5

Most trains to or from the Bermeo branch run direct to Bilbao and use the west <=> north curve avoiding Amorebieta Echano (the main line station). On Sunday mornings (between midnight and 06:00) a two-hourly shuttle operates instead between Amorebieta Echano and Bermeo using the east-facing curve; for times see EuskoTren website www.euskotren.es/castellano/horarios/pdf/Urdaibai.pdf (4.5MB file). @CHECK URL

Altsasu – Altsasu-Pueblo

[655, 689] (6A1) ES11/6

This north <=> east connection is used by trains between Pamplona and Irún.

		533	Irún - 09:02 Altsasu - Barcelona Sants
		537	Irún - 16:18 San Sebastian/Donostia - Barcelona Sants
		534	Barcelona Sants - 11:19 Pamplona - Irún
		530	Barcelona Sants - 19:23 Pamplona - Irún

Altsasu avoiding line: Altsasu-Pueblo – Olazti

[655, 689] (6A1, not shown) ES11/7

This east <=> west connection avoiding Altsasu on the south side is used by trains between Pamplona and Vitoria/Gasteiz.

P.B. Valdestillas – Valdestillas (via Valdestillas cambiador de ancho)

[682] (10A1, not shown) ES11/8

This 2 km connection between the high speed line and the broad gauge line south of Valladolid is used by some Alvia high speed trains between Madrid and Valladolid. These trains can be identified from the platform departure sheets at Valladolid Campo Grande by their use of the broad gauge platforms 3, 4 or 5. In general, northbound high speed trains booked to arrive in Valladolid less than 20 minutes after the departure of a southbound standard gauge train will probably use the Valdestillas cambiador de ancho.

The following trains were booked by this route in 2010:

		4167	Madrid Chamartín - 16:45 Segovia AV - Hendaye
	SX	4181	18:30 Madrid Chamartín - Gijon

Confirmation of this usage would be welcomed by the compilers.

Other Alvia services to destinations north of Valladolid use the cambiador de ancho north of Valladolid Campo Grande station.

Venta de Baños avoiding line: Palencia – Magaz

[682, 689] (10B2, not shown) ES11/9

This east <=> west line avoiding Venta de Baños on the north side is used by trains between Burgos and Palencia.

Venta de Baños – Magaz

[689] (10B2) ES11/10

This line is used by direct trains between Valladolid Campo Grande and Burgos which do not call (and reverse) at Palencia.

Miranda de Ebro avoiding line: Pancorbo – Haro

[655, 682] (11B3, not shown) ES11/11

This west <=> south curve is used by trains between Logroño and Burgos which do not call at Miranda de Ebro:

@ CHECK CURRENT TRAIN TIMES @

	SX	931	Gijón - 01:20 Burgos Rosa de Lima (next day) - Barcelona Sants
		921	A Coruña/Vigo - 02:15 Burgos Rosa de Lima (next day) - Barcelona Sants
		630	Salamanca - 08:58 Burgos Rosa de Lima - Zaragoza Delicias
		922	Barcelona Sants - 01:05 Logroño (next day) - A Coruña/Vigo
	SX	932	Barcelona Sants - 01:59 Logroño (next day) - Gijón
		633	Zaragoza Delicias - 16:45 Haro - Salamanca

Miranda de Ebro – Pobes

[655, 689] (11B3, not shown) ES11/12

The branch from Miranda de Ebro to Bilbao forms what appears to be a conventional burrowing junction with the line to Irún but is in fact two separate single lines. Most trains are booked to use the south side platforms (and hence the "long" curve behind the depot and works and under the Irún line) but some are booked to use the north side platforms (and hence the "short" inside curve). The platform usage can be identified from the platform departure sheets.

However, it is not unusual for trains to use a platform (and possibly also the route) other than that booked.

Cambiador Plasencia – Grisén (via Plasencia de Jalón cambiador de ancho)

[650, 655] (12B1, not shown) ES11/13

This connection links the high speed line west of Zaragoza with the ‘classic’ main line. It is used by through trains between Madrid Atocha and either Logroño or Pamplona (and beyond) not calling at Zaragoza.

Zaragoza avoiding line: Grisén – Cabañas de Ebro

[650, 655] (12B1-2) ES11/14

This line links the Calatayud and Tudela de Navarra lines west of Zaragoza. It is used by through trains between Madrid Atocha and either Logroño or Pamplona (and beyond) not calling at Zaragoza.

Zaragoza – Tardienta

[656] (13A1-2) ES11/15

There is both a broad gauge and a standard gauge (not shown on the Ball atlas) line between Zaragoza and Tardienta. The standard gauge dives under the broad gauge line at Miraflores and then parallels it all the way as a single line on the west side. However, it takes a slightly different alignment at San Juan de Mozarrifar where a 2km long embankment and flyover carries it over the freight-only branch to the military installation at San Gregorio which heads westwards here.

The standard gauge line is used by the daily through train (2 trains on Sundays) between Madrid and Huesca. All other trains use the broad gauge line.

Note: The Tardienta - Huesca line consists of a dual gauge single track.

Zaragoza avoiding line ‘Ronda Sur’ (standard gauge) @ ADD JUNCTION NAMES @

[650] (13A1, not shown) ES11/16

This 21km long line forms part of the Madrid - Barcelona high speed line, bypassing Zaragoza to the south. It is used by high speed trains between Madrid and Barcelona not calling at Zaragoza.

Lleida avoiding line: (Bif. Torres Sanui – Bif. Artesa)

[650] (14A1 not shown) ES11/17

This 14 km long standard gauge line carries the Madrid - Barcelona high speed line to the south of Lleida Pirineus station. It is used by high speed trains between Madrid/Zaragoza and Barcelona not calling at Lleida.

Other sparse services

The following sections have services which are sparse, even by Spanish standards (fewer than three trains per day):

@ CHECK SERVICES

• 686 Ribadeo – Navia
• 686 Llanes – Cabezón de la Sal
• 683 Cistierna – Guardo – Balmaseda
• 656 Jaca – Canfranc
• Valencia C-1 Xeraco – Platja i Grau de Gandia (three trains per day on weekdays and two at weekends)
• 677 Huelva – Zafra (at present only two trains each way per week run to Zafra owing to engineering work). The service is totally suspended from 10 June to 27 July 2010.
• 677 Cazalla-Constantina – Zafra
• 677, 691 Cáceres – Valencia de Alcantara – Marvão Beirã
• 690 Salamanca La Alamedilla – Ciudad Rodrigo – Fuentes de Oñoro – Vilar Formoso
• 695 O Porrino – Tui – Valença do Minho

Deletions since previous edition

• ES10/7A León avoiding line ‘Enlace Sur’: Palanquinos - Qintana-Raneros: diversions ceased 26 November 2010.
• ES10/7B León avoiding line ‘Enlace Sur’: Palanquinos - León: diversions ceased 26 November 2010.
• ES10/13 Burgos Rosa de Lima (Bif. Madrid-Burgos) - Aranda de Duero Montecillo - Colmenar Viejo: the service appears not to have run again after a derailment on 13 February 2010 @ CHECK DATE.
• ES10/19 Barcelona Sant Andreu Comtal (Bif. Aigües) – Montcada Bifurcació: the planned diversions seem not to have taken place

See also

• Spain
• Spain - General Information