Tourist railways in Spain are very popular. There are dozen or so tourist trains running on various routes thorough the country. These trains run irregularly, on certain days of the year. A separate tariff applies, Interrail tickets are not accepted.
The list does not include luxury tourist trains and rack railways
El Tren dels Llacs – a very popular tourist train launched by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya along the picturesque railway line Lleida – La Pobla de Segur (89 km). Trips are available on retro trains composed of a diesel locomotive manufactured in 1960s and passenger carriages from 1968, as well as trips on a modern, air-conditioned GTW 331 diesel multiple unit with panoramic windows. The one-way journey takes approximately two hours. The retro train runs from the second half of April to the end of October, and trips in the diesel multiple unit are possible in July and August only. Prices are very affordable for a tourist train.
El Tren dels Llacs – official website of FGC tourist trains
Tren de la Fresa – translated into English as “Strawberry Train”. It runs on designated days from Madrid to Aranjuez, on a 44-kilometer route that was the first railway line in the Madrid area. It was built in 1851, connecting the Royal Palace of Aranjuez with Madrid. The train is composed of retro carriages. The journey takes an hour in each direction, in Aranjuez passengers have six to seven hours off. Railway station in Aranjuez is one of the most beautiful railway stations in Spain.
Tren de la Fresa – official website
Tren Granota – tourist train operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya in Barcelon. The train is formed by an old electric multiple units series 400 first put into circulation in 1944, called “Tren Granota” (Frog train) because of its colors and characteristic lanterns on the front. The last “Granota” trains were replaced by new electric diesel multiple units in 1996. 27 vehicles were sold to Cuba, where are operating to this day on Hershey Railway. Three vehicles were preserved as historical material.
Tren Granota – official website of FGC tourist trains
A numerous tourist trains are also run by RENFE. In Asturias you can take a train from Gijón to Cudillero or from Oviedo to Leres, in Galicia you can take several trains in Ferrol area, and the well-known trains are Tren del Canal de Castilla (Madrid – Valladolid), Tren de los Molinos (Madrid – Campo de Criptana ), or Tren de Cervantes (Madrid – Alcala de Henares). Some RENFE tourist trains are composed of modern vehicles, others with retro carriages.
RENFE – Trenes tematicos – official website about tourist trains
Related articles:
Train travel in Spain
Train travel in Mallorca
Narrow gauge railways in Spain
Railways in Europe by country
