Marcos Castro

🚆🇪🇸 There’s an unusual station on the Cercanías València network: Platja i Grau de Gandia is part of a short branch that allows freight trains to reach the port area and also serves as a terminus of line C1, with just two trains per day at weekends in the off-season!

🚄💨 From today, a special service is running between Barcelona-Sants and Lleida-Pirineus to increase capacity on the route, with tickets offered at no cost. This has also meant the return of the #Avril sets to this high-speed line, which were withdrawn due to technical issues.

🚆🇪🇸 From Bilbao-La Concordia to León with the #R71876, a 322 km journey taking 7h 49min. This route is part of the Ferrocarril de La Robla, originally built for coal traffic. There’s just one daily service between these cities and you need to change trains twice during the trip.

🚆📷 The line E3 of #Euskotren was also still pending for me! It runs between Kukullaga-Etxebarri and Lezama, serving 16 stations. The route is 19 km long and shares its initial section with line L3, allowing a weekday frequency of 7.5′ along this stretch and 15′ on the rest.

🚆🌊 This was one of the #Euskotren lines I hadn’t yet travelled, and what a view! The E4 is a commuter service that connects Matiko-Bilbao and Bermeo, with 25 stations over 52 km. The landscape becomes distinctly maritime at Mundaka, where the train runs along the coastline.

As 2025 is coming to an end, it’s time for a #RailReview! Here are some facts about this year:

🚄 Trips: 409
📏 Distance: +39.700 km
🌍 Countries visited: 16
📍 Longest journey: Wien - București

I’m very much looking forward to more adventures on the rails! 🎉

🚆🛤️ In Bilbao, I had the opportunity to visit the Centro de Gestión de Operaciones (CGO) of #Renfe. From here they coordinate services, respond to disruptions and manage passenger information for the Cercanías Bilbao and Cercanías San Sebastián networks. It was very interesting!

🚄🇪🇸 Taking the #ALVIA438 from Barcelona-Sants to Bilbao-Abando in Elige Confort. This service is worked by an S-120, which features variable gauge, as it runs on the high-speed line until past Zaragoza-Delicias. The journey is around 6h 54min, covering a route of 650 km.

🚆🇹🇷 I crossed from Asia to Europe with the #Marmaray! This suburban rail system connects Halkalı and Gebze through a tunnel under the Bosphorus Strait. The line is 76.6 km in total, with its last section completed in 2019, and it’s operated exclusively by TCDD E32000 trains.

🚄🇹🇷 Heading back to Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme from Ankara on the #YHT, but this time with an HT65000. These trains built by CAF are based on Renfe S-120 and have a maximum speed of 250 km/h. I travelled in business class, which features comfortable seats and includes refreshments!

🚄🇹🇷 The last train of my trip! Travelling from Halkalı to Ankara with the #YHT, worked by a Velaro TR. This high-speed service crosses from Europe to Asia through a tunnel under the Bosphorus. The ticket for this 5h 16min journey was ₺1,500 in a business compartment.

🚆🌙 This has definitely been the highlight of the trip, and it was my longest train journey so far! I travelled from București Nord 🇷🇴 to Halkalı 🇹🇷 with the Bosphorus Express, covering 789km in 23h 45min. It’s basically a couchette coupled to other trains, quite an experience!

🚆🇷🇴 Heading back to București Nord from Brașov, this time on the #R3030 operated by #CFRcălători. The journey with this train is slightly longer because it serves many smaller villages. I travelled in first class in these double-deck carriages and paid 51.25 lei for the ticket.

🚆🇷🇴 From București Nord to Brașov with the #IR11531. This service of the open-access operator Astra Trans Carpatic is worked by an IC2 DMU that was originally built for Denmark. There is only second class on this 2h 28min journey, and the ticket costs just 68.5 lei.

🚆🌙 The #Dacia departs Wien Hbf 🇦🇹 in the evening and arrives at București Nord 🇷🇴 the next afternoon. The journey with this night train is about 19h 46min, covering a route of approximately 1,112km. I travelled in a single bed sleeper 🛏️ featuring a washbasin and lots of space!

🚄🇦🇹 I’m trying #WESTbahn for the first time! This open-access operator launched services in 2011, using Stadler KISS trains. I took the #WB917 from Salzburg Hbf to Wien Westbahnhof in first class, which included a complimentary refreshing towel, a bottle of water and biscuits.

🚆🇦🇹 Leaving Graz Hbf with the #IC512 bound for Salzburg Hbf. The consist is hauled by an ÖBB 1144 and includes only one first class carriage with very few seats, as half of it is a bike compartment. There’s also a trolley service offering snacks and drinks during the journey.

🚆🇨🇭 The #Transalpin is a classic of train travel in Europe! I took the #EC163 between Zürich HB and Graz Hbf 🇦🇹 with a seat in the panoramic car. This journey through the Austrian Alps 🏔️ is 9h 34min, a great opportunity to enjoy the stunning views and visit the dining car ☕🥐!

🚄💨 This is my first trip with #TGVLyria! I travelled from Paris-Gare de Lyon 🇫🇷 to Zürich HB 🇨🇭 on the #TGV9213 in first class. For some reason, this train goes via Strasbourg, making the journey 5h 34min. I had lunch from #LeBistrot, and ordered the menu “en-cas” with a quiche.

🚆🇫🇷 In Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg, I change to the #IntercitésdeNuit 🛏️🌙 to Paris-Austerlitz. This time, I’m travelling in a first class compartment, which has four berths, includes an amenity kit and water, and also gives you access to shower 🚿 facilities at the arrival station!

🚆🇫🇷 I departed from La Garriga, where I took a commuter train to La Tor de Querol-Enveig, right on the border with France. The journey from my local station takes 2h 28min and was worked by this S-447 with standard seats. I arrived about 40min late, making the connection tight!

🚄🇹🇷 Is it really possible to travel from Barcelona to Ankara just by train? I’ve wanted to do this trip for such a long time, and last month I finally had the chance. This will be a thread about the incredible journey I took!

🚆 11 trains
🛤️ 5,776 km
🕓 4 days
🌍 9 countries

👉 In total 10 trains will be delivered.
♻️ Developed with ecodesign criteria.
💺 193 seats + 7 foldable + 2 PRM.
♿ Low-floor entry and wheelchair facilities.
💡 Dynamic-intensity lighting.
🛫 Screens displaying flight information.
🔋 USB sockets.

🚆🆕 The first Coradia Stream for #FGC is ready! These new trains, built by @alstom.bsky.social, will be used on the R-Aeroport line, a fast service linking Barcelona-El Prat Airport ✈️ with the city. They have capacity for 656 passengers, featuring wider aisles and dedicated luggage spaces.

🚄🇩🇪 The new ICE L sets will enter service with the next timetable change in December, initially on the Berlin-Cologne route. The L stands for low-floor entry, the main feature of the trains built by @talgo.com. This week, I saw one of them next to Warschauer Straße station.

🚆🇪🇸 The station of Alcázar de San Juan served as an important connection point for radial lines coming from the centre and south of Spain. It’s less used today but still has some Media Distancia services such as this #MD34009 to Madrid-Chamartín, with a journey time of 1h 43min.

🚆🇪🇸 Taking the #MD18331 from Badajoz to Alcázar de San Juan, worked by a diesel S-559. This train doesn’t have many passengers, mainly local people from the small towns along the route. After stopping in Puertollano and Ciudad Real is when it starts to get busy.

🚄🇪🇸 Travelling from Madrid-Chamartín to Badajoz with the #ALVIA192 in Elige Confort. The journey takes 4h 39min and is worked by a hybrid S-730, built by #Talgo. This train is dual-voltage and features a variable gauge system. There’s also a cafeteria selling drinks and snacks.

🚄🇪🇸 Again with #Iryo from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha to Barcelona-Sants in Infinita Bistró, the most flexible option. The #IRY6201 connects the two cities in just 2h 52min, stopping only at Zaragoza-Delicias. For dinner, I chose the chicken thigh stuffed with foie and raisins.

🚆🇪🇸 Even with the opening of the “Variante de Pajares” in 2023, there’s still a regional train that takes the old route. The #R12101 departs Valladolid-Campo Grande early in the morning and arrives in Gijón at midday. It has few passengers, but the views are worth the journey.