Trip to Spain - January 2023
General Notes
Ten days in Spain, planned around the PTG "Costa del Alco" 5-day railtour from Madrid to Almería, Málaga, Algeciras and Cadíz. I flew to Alicante/Alacant to cover required track in that area, and also stayed on for two days to cover some required track north of Madrid. One night in Segovia allowed viewing of the splendid Roman aqueduct there. Each day has its own album page, with an extra album for the Segovia Aqueduct.
Operating Company Abbreviations
- RENFE - Red Nacional de los Ferrocarriles Españoles (principal train operator in Spain)
Track gauge
Unless otherwise stated, RENFE trains of types AVE and Avant are standard (1435 mm) gauge, others are Iberian (1668 mm) gauge. Gauge-changing trains are listed individually.
| Place | Arrive | Depart | Train | Traction details & notes |
Friday 20th January 2023
| Timperley | 04:02 | taxi | ||
| Manchester Airport T3 (MAN) | 04:16 | 06:30 | FR 9073 | Ryanair EI-ENM B737-8AS; gate 44) push-back at 06:36, take-off 06:48 from runway 23L |
| Alicante Airport (ALC) | 10:10 | landed 09:58 on runway 28, on stand 10:04 | ||
| Alacant Aeropuerto | 10:40 | 'C-6' | bus | |
| Alacant Estación de Autobuses | 10:58 | |||
| Alacant Terminal | 12:50 | Avant 33125 | RENFE EMU 104020 via Monforte del Cid east-south curve, standard gauge route: left track - east to south single curve - cross to right track - Elche AV north side loop - Callosa de Segura-Cox AV north side loop - then cross to left track, right not yet in use - Orihuela MH left track - Beniel left track | |
| Murcia del Carmen | 13:43 | 15:00 | Avant 33157 | RENFE EMU 104020 via Monforte del Cid south-east curve, standard gauge route: via Beniel right track - Orihuela AV right track – Callosa and Elche right (south) side loops - delayed before triangle - right hand track |
| Alacant Terminal | 15:52 | 17:00 | MD 18083 | RENFE EMU 449012 via broad gauge route, direct Caudete – La Encina |
| Albacete Los Llanos | 18:36 | arr 22 late | ||
| New passenger track today: standard gauge Alacant Terminal - Monforte del Cid east-south curve - Murcia del Carmen; Iberian gauge Caudete – La Encina. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Castilla, Paseo de la Cuba 3, 02001 Albacete (200 m from station; 1 night). Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: Flight from Manchester to Alicante (Alacant), in position to cover the new high speed Avant services between Alacant and Murcia. Then from Alacant to Albacete: the west curve at La Encina only has two trains each way per day. |
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Saturday 21st January 2023
| Albacete Los Llanos | 09:18 | RegExp 18018 | RENFE DMU 599050 via left track from Moixent - right track after Xàtiva - slow running, sleeper and rail replacement | |
| València Nord | 11:23 | arr 27 late | ||
| València Nord | 12:19 | Reg 14415 | RENFE EMU 447306/?/305 slow running - Xàtiva, overlap with Alcoi branch | |
| Xàtiva | 13:17 | 13:50 | Reg 14415 | RENFE DMU 592235/?/? |
| Alcoi | 15:04 | 15:18 | Reg 14416 | RENFE DMU 592235/?/? |
| Xàtiva | 16:35 | 17:06 | MD 18523 | RENFE DMU 599055 cross to left track at La Font de la Figuera |
| Alacant Terminal | 18:30 | arr 12 late | ||
| Alacant Terminal | 17:50 | IC 463 | RENFE DL 334014+8C+334020 dep 81 late | |
| via Sant Gabriel (rev 18:48/18:49) | ||||
| Murcia del Carmen | 19:20 | arr 63 late | ||
| New passenger track today: Xàtiva - Alcoi. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Pacoche Murcia, Cartagena 30, 30002 Murcia (700 m from station) (1 night). Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: The primary aim for today was to cover the branch line from Xàtiva to Alcoi, west of València, which only has 3 or 4 trains per day each way; then ending the day in Murcia to be in position for the next day's travels. The València to Alcoi train is advertised as a through service but was an EMU to the junction station at Xàtiva for a DMU forward. I could have stayed on train MD18523 all the way from Xàtiva to Murcia, but I found out that the InterCity service between Barcelona and Murcia, which is top-n-tailed between Alacant and Murcia by two Class 334 diesel locomotives, was running very late and behind the MD instead of in front of it; so I transferred to it at Alcant Terminal. |
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Sunday 22nd January 2023
| Plaza Circular | 09:58 | Murcia tram 161 | ||
| Estadio Nuevo Condomina | 10:16 | 10:20 | Murcia tram 163 via University loop | |
| Los Rectores-Terra Natura | 11:03 | 11:06 | Murcia tram 159 via UCAM | |
| Los Jerónimos | 11:14 | 11:16 | Murcia tram 159 | |
| Los Rectores-Terra Natura | 11:23 | 11:26 | Murcia tram 161 | |
| Plaza Circular | 11:39 | then view former Murcia-Zaraiche station building | ||
| Murcia del Carmen | 13:55 | AVE 5843 | RENFE EMU 112 set 08 | |
| called at Orihuela, Elche AV - via Monforte del Cid west curve, long curve on to Alicante line 14:33 - Motilla del Palancar long curve under Valencia HSL 15:22 - new HSL from Torrejon de Velasco - Madrid Puerta de Atocha Estación Pasante Bypass - left track, cross before Charmartín | ||||
| Madrid Chamartín | 16:40 | 17:07 | 'C-4A' | RENFE EMU 465042 via diveunder - west side of Fuencarral |
| Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes | 17:24 | 17:32 | 'C-4A' | RENFE EMU 465042 via diveunder into Madrid Charmartín |
| Madrid Charmartín | 17:48 | 18:00 | 'C-7' | RENFE DD EMU 450009 etc via Recoletos - Atocha Cercanías [3] 18:16 |
| Alcala [bay 4] | 19:02 | 19:11 | 'C-2' | RENFE DD EMU 450009 etc via Atocha Cercanías [2] 19:58 - Recoletos |
| Madrid Charmartín | 20:06 | arr 11 late | ||
| New passenger track today: standard gauge Monforte del Cid west curve - Motilla del Palancar Jn; new HSL from Torrejon de Velasco - Madrid Puerta de Atocha Estación Pasante Bypass - Charmartín. Madrid suburban: Cantoblanco Universidad - Alcobendas-San Sebastián de los Reyes; Atocha Cercanías - El Pozo; Vicálvaro - San Fernando. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Madrid Chamartín The One (above Charmartín station) (1 night). Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: The primary aim for today was the route from Murcia to Madrid, much of which was "new track" for me, but especially the temporary route under Madrid Puerta de Atocha. Time beforehand to do the two-route Murcia tram system, and in the evening a couple of the Madrid suburban routes I need. |
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Monday 23rd January 2023
| Madrid Chamartín [9B] | 07:56 | 39030/1 | ALSA DL 2148 + 2150 + 1603 in various combinations | |
| via Hortaleza - Vicálvaro-Mercancías - Villaverde Bajo - Aranjuez 09.06 (28 late) - Alcázar de San Juan 10.22 (26 late) - Manzanares | ||||
| Linares Baeza | 12:46 | 13:16 | 37360 | |
| via Moreda 15.16 - Guadix 15.40/15.44 | ||||
| Almería | 17:21 | 18:28 | 37363/2 | dep 16 late |
| via Guadix 20.28/20.48 (19 late) - Moreda (curve) 21.15 (15 late) | ||||
| Granada | 22:23 | arr 10 late | ||
| New passenger track today: Manzanares - Moreda - Almería; Moreda - Granada. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Tent Granada (300 m from station, 1 night). Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: First day of the PTG "Costa del Alco" 5-day railtour. Today would be "new track" for me from Manzanares to Almería and back to Granada, including two sides of the triangle south of Moreda (the difficult side, with no service at all, would be done tomorrow). The route from Almería towards Moreda climbs over 3700 feet in about 50 miles, that's an average gradient of about 1 in 70, but with long stretches at 1 in 40. Some tour participants headed back from Almería to Granada on a service train, but I opted to wait for the railtour; some time at Almería was well spent getting beers from a supermarket then pizzas from Domino's. |
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Tuesday 24th January 2023
| Granada | 09:45 | 37365 | ALSA DL 2148 + 2150 + 1603 in various combinations | |
| via Iznalloz 10.14/10.26 - Moreda 10.54/11.06 - Larva 12.00/12.07 (13 late) | ||||
| Linares Baeza | 13:03 | 15:47 | 39366 | dep 58 late |
| via Córdoba 17.51 (84 late) - Fuente de Piedra - goods line - Bobadilla 19.40 (89 late) - El Chorro-Caminito Del Rey 19.56 (106 late) | ||||
| Aljaima | 20:31 | 00:47 | arr 114 late; terminated due to fatality on train in front - ALSA coach | |
| Hotel Eurostars Málaga | 01:15 | booked arrival 21:07 | ||
| New passenger track today: Linares-Baeza - Córdoba. | ||||
| New non-passenger track today: west curve at Moreda; Córdoba - Fuente de Piedra - goods line bypassing Antequera Santa Ana. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Eurostars Málaga (300 m from station). Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: Second day of the PTG "Costa del Alco" 5-day railtour: Granada - Moreda - Linares-Baeza - Córdoba - Bobadilla - Málaga. |
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Wednesday 25th January 2023
| Málaga | 07:29 | 37369 | ALSA DL 2148 + 2150 + 1603 in various combinations dep 14 late - via Cartama 07:43 (arr 22/dep 31 late) | |
| Bobadilla | 08:37 | 09:07 | 37268 | arr 26/dep 33 late |
| via Arriate 10:22/10:34 (36 late/32 late) - Jimera de Libar 10:55 (38 late/65 late) - Gaucin 11:14:11:26 (54 late) | ||||
| Algeciras | 12:20 | 13:16 | arr 55/dep 81 late | |
| via Beneojan-Montej (15:54/16:05) - La Indiana 14:42 (arr 77/dep 89 late) - Ronda goods loop 15:01/15:03 (arr 104/dep 111 ;ate) - Setenil 15:18/15:25 (dep 105 late) | ||||
| Bobadilla | 16:06 | 16:26 | 99371 | arr 114/dep 105 late |
| via goods line to Fuente de Piedra - Puente Genil 16:57 (117 late) | ||||
| Córdoba | 17:52 | arr 150 late | ||
| New passenger track today: none. | ||||
| Overnight: AC Hotel by Marriott Córdoba (100 m from station, 2 nights). Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: Third day of the PTG "Costa del Alco" 5-day railtour: Málaga - Bobadilla - Algeciras - Bobadilla - Córdoba. |
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Thursday 26th January 2023
| Córdoba | 09:15 | 37372 | ALSA DL 2150 | |
| via Villarrubia 09:29 (dep 8 late) - Posadas 09:41 (dep 17 late) - Lora del Rio 10:12 (dep 20 late) - Bif Los Naranjos - Bif Tamarguillo - Palacio Congreso - La Salud 11:06 (dep 32 late) | ||||
| El Puerto de Santa Maria | 12:40 | 13:55 | 'C-1A' | arr 21 late - RENFE EMU 464 223 |
| Universidad | 14:06 | 14:15 | 'C-1A' | RENFE EMU 464 223 |
| Las Aletos | 14:18 | 14:21 | 'C-1' | RENFE EMU 464 227 |
| Cadíz | 14:51 | 15:08 | 37375 | ALSA DL 2150 |
| via Jerez de la Frontera 15:46/16:01 - Palacio Congreso - Brenes 18:05/18:07 - Posadas 19:14/19:26 (dep 19 early) | ||||
| Córdoba | 19:55 | arr 18 early | ||
| New passenger track today: Bif Tamarguillo - Bif La Negrilla; La Salud-Aguja km 10.2 - La Salud; Bif Utrera - Las Aletos - Cadíz; Las Aletos - Universidad. | ||||
| Overnight: AC Hotel by Marriott Córdoba (2nd night). Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: Fourth day of the PTG "Costa del Alco" 5-day railtour: Córdoba - Sevilla bypass - El Puerto de Santa Maria - service train to Universidad and on to Cadíz - back on the railtour - Sevilla bypass - Córdoba. The Los Aletos - Universidad Cadíz Cercanías branch only has a few trains per day in term-time only. |
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Friday 27th January 2023
| Córdoba | 09:11 | 37379/8 | ALSA DL 2150 | |
| via Espeluy 10:38/10:53 | ||||
| Jaén (*) | 11:24 | 15:10 | 37181/0 | ALSA DL 2150 |
| Espeluy | 15:47 | 16:34 | 37181 | ALSA EL 269413 + DL1603 dead + DL 2148 dead, DL 2150 on rear |
| via Linares-Baeza 16:54 (dep 58 late) - Manzanares 18:20/18:31 (dep 69 late) - Alcazar de San Juan 19:03 (arr 77/dep 79 late) - Aranjuez 20:11/20:16 (dep 75 late) - Ciempozuelos 20:28 (arr 80/dep 87 late) - Madrid Atocha Cercanías 21:05/21:11 (arr 89/dep 84 late) | ||||
| Madrid Chamartín | 21:25 | arr 89 late | ||
| New passenger track today: Espeluy - Jaén | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel Madrid Chamartín The One (above station, 1 night) Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: Fifth day of the PTG "Costa del Alco" 5-day railtour: Córdoba - Espeluy - Jaén - Espeluy - Manzanares - Aranjuez - Madrid Atocha Cercanías - Madrid Chamartín (we were supposed to cover the east curve avoiding Espuluy but this was removed, apparently for operational reasons). (*) At Jaén a friend and I walked up to and along part of the disused railway line from Jaén towards Puente Genil. |
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Saturday 28th January 2023
| Madrid Chamartin | 07:32 | '10' | Madrid metro | |
| Madrid Principe Pio | 07:46 | 08:28 | MD 18921 | RENFE DMU 599 005 via Ávila, Crespos, Salamanca (11:25, dep 17 late) |
| Salamanca-La Alamedilla | 11:27 | walk back to Salamanca main station | ||
| Salamanca | 14:00 | MD 18306 | RENFE DMU 594013 via Cantalapiedra station | |
| Medina del Campo | 15:03 | walk across town | ||
| Medina del Campo AV | 16:47 | Alvia 4969 | RENFE EMU 121019 on standard gauge | |
| via Medina del Campo gauge changer - Cantalapiedra bypass line | ||||
| Salamanca | 17:31 | 18:20 | Alvia 4988 | RENFE EMU 121019 on broad gauge |
| via via Cantalapiedra bypass line - Medina del Campo gauge changer - Medina del Campo AV | ||||
| Segovia Guiomar | 19:31 | 19:55 | '11' | bus |
| Acueducto | 20:05 | |||
| New passenger track today: Ávila - Salamanca - Salamanca-La Alamedilla; Salamanca - Cantalapiedra station - Medina del Campo; Medina del Campo AV - gauge changer - Salamanca line; Cantalapiedra station bypass line. | ||||
| Overnight: Hotel ELE Acueducto, Segovia. Today's photos. | ||||
| Notes: Back to doing "my own thing". Aims for today were to cover the two routes to Salamanca and the various connections onto the Salamanca line at Medina del Campo. All of today would be "new track" for me except the route out of Madrid as far as Ávila, and part of the high speed line to Segovia. Segovia has a superb, completely intact, Roman Aqueduct, which I made sure I had time to look over (photos here), and also is the end of a broad gauge Madrid outer suburban line with a poor service (which I would cover next day). |
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Sunday 29th January 2023
| Segovia | 10:42 | Reg 17122 | RENFE EMU 446 023 | |
| Cercedilla | 11:31 | 11:34 | 'C-8' | RENFE EMU 446 012+446 038 |
| via Pitis – Chamartín [6] - Nuevos Ministerios [2] - Recoletos [2] | ||||
| Madrid Atocha Cercanías | 12:48 | walk down to the southern end of the Madrid Puerta de Atocha Estación Pasante Bypass | ||
| Madrid Puerta de Atocha | 13:45 | Avant 8132 | RENFE EMU 114 set 10 via short curve at La Sagra | |
| Toledo | 14:18 | 15:25 | Avant 8153 | RENFE EMU 114 set 10 via long curve at La Sagra |
| Madrid Puerta de Atocha | 15:58 | |||
| Madrid Atocha Cercanías | 16:08 | 'C-4' | RENFE EMU 465 018 | |
| Parla | 16:36 | 16:56 | 'C-4' | RENFE EMU 465 058 |
| Madrid Atocha Cercanías | 17:26 | 17:32 | 'C-5' | RENFE EMU 446 419+093 |
| Zarzaquemada | 17:50 | 18:03 | 'C-5' | RENFE EMU 446 238+330 |
| Madrid Atocha Cercanías | 18:20 | 18:24 | 'C-4' | RENFE DD EMU 450 014 via Recoletos |
| Nuevos Ministerios | 18:31 | 18:38 | '8' | Madrid metro |
| Aeropuerto T123 | 18:53 | |||
| Madrid T1 (MAD) | 21:20 | RK 6914 | Ryanair G-RUKD; gate A4: push-back at 21:16, take-off 21:33 from runway 36L | |
| Manchester Airport (MAN) | 22:55 | 22:59 | landed 22:40 on runway 23R, on stand 22:46 - taxi | |
| Timperley | 23:15 | Today's photos. | ||
| New passenger track today: Segovia - Cercedilla - Villalba; Bif La Sagra - Toledo; Villaverde Alto - Parla. | ||||
| Notes: After more exploration of the aqueduct (photos here) I checked out out of the hotel and walked across town to the broad gauge station, which only has a sparse service. Continuing into Madrid I covered the short high speed line branch to Toledo, south of Madrid, then some more of the Madrid area suburban routes; before finally heading to Madrid airport for my flight home.. |
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