Simon Maarfield
@simonmaarfield.bsky.social
Eisenbahner, transport planner, rail fan, environmentalist
The #Renfe #Alvia train at 07:21 from Badajoz takes 4h22m to reach Madrid Atocha via a mix of new and old, and electrified and non-electrified 1668 mm gauge lines. It is formed of a very loud and rattly Talgo bimodal train set, which remains lightly loaded in first class throughout. #CrossBorderRail
November 4, 2025 at 6:11 AM
The #Renfe #Alvia train at 07:21 from Badajoz takes 4h22m to reach Madrid Atocha via a mix of new and old, and electrified and non-electrified 1668 mm gauge lines. It is formed of a very loud and rattly Talgo bimodal train set, which remains lightly loaded in first class throughout. #CrossBorderRail
I stayed in the semi-pedestrianised old town of Badajoz, a 1.5 km walk from the railway station. At this time of year it's dark at 17:45 and was still dark when I walked back to the station at 06:30 the next morning #CrossBorderRail
November 4, 2025 at 6:11 AM
I stayed in the semi-pedestrianised old town of Badajoz, a 1.5 km walk from the railway station. At this time of year it's dark at 17:45 and was still dark when I walked back to the station at 06:30 the next morning #CrossBorderRail
The last stop in Portugal is in newly electrified Elvas. 16 passengers remain to cross the border to Badajoz, Spain, where there's a 22-minute cross-platform connection to Mérida and Madrid, 4h30m away. Today this would have worked, but I'm staying the night in Badajoz.
#CrossBorderRail
#CrossBorderRail
November 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The last stop in Portugal is in newly electrified Elvas. 16 passengers remain to cross the border to Badajoz, Spain, where there's a 22-minute cross-platform connection to Mérida and Madrid, 4h30m away. Today this would have worked, but I'm staying the night in Badajoz.
#CrossBorderRail
#CrossBorderRail
It would be an underestimate to say this region is sparcely populated! But to my surprise, we maintain 100+ km/h for most of the route. #CrossBorderRail
November 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
It would be an underestimate to say this region is sparcely populated! But to my surprise, we maintain 100+ km/h for most of the route. #CrossBorderRail
On my day of travel, the load factor from Abrantes is about 40%. Any more than this makes for a very uncomfortable experience in the 3+2 seating with legroom for just one adult. In Portalegre (located 9 km from town) we lose half the remaining passengers. #CrossBorderRail
November 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
On my day of travel, the load factor from Abrantes is about 40%. Any more than this makes for a very uncomfortable experience in the 3+2 seating with legroom for just one adult. In Portalegre (located 9 km from town) we lose half the remaining passengers. #CrossBorderRail
You can leave Abrantes at 09:08 or, as I did, at 14:08. Trains are usually formed of a single 1954-built Allan railcar, modernised in 2022. Tickets can be bought online, at the ticket office or on board. Advantage of boarding in Abrantes? Half the passengers from Entrancamento get off here!
November 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
You can leave Abrantes at 09:08 or, as I did, at 14:08. Trains are usually formed of a single 1954-built Allan railcar, modernised in 2022. Tickets can be bought online, at the ticket office or on board. Advantage of boarding in Abrantes? Half the passengers from Entrancamento get off here!
Some effort has been made to provide connecting local buses from Abrantes town centre, 3.2 km and 132m ascent away, *into* the trains to Badajoz. These leave Abrantes at 09:08 and 14:08. I chose the latter.
#CrossBorderRail
#CrossBorderRail
November 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Some effort has been made to provide connecting local buses from Abrantes town centre, 3.2 km and 132m ascent away, *into* the trains to Badajoz. These leave Abrantes at 09:08 and 14:08. I chose the latter.
#CrossBorderRail
#CrossBorderRail
Here too there is an unadvertised through service Regio + Urbano from Coimbra-B to Porto via Pampilhosa and Aveiro, so it's not as bad as communicated! So there we have it, Vilar Formoso - Porto with one change in five hours, albeit in backside-numbing class 2240 seats. #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Here too there is an unadvertised through service Regio + Urbano from Coimbra-B to Porto via Pampilhosa and Aveiro, so it's not as bad as communicated! So there we have it, Vilar Formoso - Porto with one change in five hours, albeit in backside-numbing class 2240 seats. #CrossBorderRail
I could not identify any obvious infrastructure improvements/upgrades on the Beira Alta line to justify the 3 year closure. AFAIK no additional passing loops for more capacity and punctuality. A long ca. 20 km/h speed restriction in Soito/Espinho area delays trains by about 10 mins.
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I could not identify any obvious infrastructure improvements/upgrades on the Beira Alta line to justify the 3 year closure. AFAIK no additional passing loops for more capacity and punctuality. A long ca. 20 km/h speed restriction in Soito/Espinho area delays trains by about 10 mins.
Class 2240s are entirely unsuitable for long journeys, but I would be on this one for > 3 hours. Apart from lack of luggage space, it's impossible to sit comfortably in these seats. The 15:55 from Vilar Formoso to Guarda is actually an unadvertised through service to Coimbra-B. #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Class 2240s are entirely unsuitable for long journeys, but I would be on this one for > 3 hours. Apart from lack of luggage space, it's impossible to sit comfortably in these seats. The 15:55 from Vilar Formoso to Guarda is actually an unadvertised through service to Coimbra-B. #CrossBorderRail
Note the generous (= costly) infrastructure, which at present only sees two daily passenger train pairs and a smattering of freight. Can we hope there might be more trains in the near future? Passenger trains are entirely in the hands of these class 2240 units #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Note the generous (= costly) infrastructure, which at present only sees two daily passenger train pairs and a smattering of freight. Can we hope there might be more trains in the near future? Passenger trains are entirely in the hands of these class 2240 units #CrossBorderRail
The ticket office is not finished yet (don't worry, tickets are sold on the train), but there are several businesses in the handsome station building in Vilar Formoso, including a bar for drinks and snacks, including snails, should you fancy them. #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The ticket office is not finished yet (don't worry, tickets are sold on the train), but there are several businesses in the handsome station building in Vilar Formoso, including a bar for drinks and snacks, including snails, should you fancy them. #CrossBorderRail
The border town of Vilar Formoso is rather small, with restaurants, hotels and the railway station all within a few minutes walk of the coach stop. You have more than 2 hours to change from coach to train here. The prettiest building in town is of course the railway station. #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
The border town of Vilar Formoso is rather small, with restaurants, hotels and the railway station all within a few minutes walk of the coach stop. You have more than 2 hours to change from coach to train here. The prettiest building in town is of course the railway station. #CrossBorderRail
After just 58 mins we are passing Cuidad Rodrigo and rapidly approaching Portugal. Hooray you might think. But no, just 5 mins short of the border we pull off the autovia for lunch at La Pedresina. We finally arrive just a few metres inside the Portuguese border 5 mins early at 13:45
October 31, 2025 at 12:52 PM
After just 58 mins we are passing Cuidad Rodrigo and rapidly approaching Portugal. Hooray you might think. But no, just 5 mins short of the border we pull off the autovia for lunch at La Pedresina. We finally arrive just a few metres inside the Portuguese border 5 mins early at 13:45
The Flixbus at 12:40 from Salamanca to Vilar Formoso is scheduled 2h10m for the 116 km. No sockets but it's comfortable enough if the passenger in front doesn't recline their seat. We run largely parallel to the freight-only #CrossBorderRail line.
October 31, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The Flixbus at 12:40 from Salamanca to Vilar Formoso is scheduled 2h10m for the 116 km. No sockets but it's comfortable enough if the passenger in front doesn't recline their seat. We run largely parallel to the freight-only #CrossBorderRail line.
After initial panic of not finding my Flixbus to Vilar Formoso, up it popped on the departure board. Careful trip planning is crucial: there may be departures to Vilar Formoso within 10 mins of each other or none at all depending on the day of the week! A 10m/47h50m-Takt 😵💫 #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
After initial panic of not finding my Flixbus to Vilar Formoso, up it popped on the departure board. Careful trip planning is crucial: there may be departures to Vilar Formoso within 10 mins of each other or none at all depending on the day of the week! A 10m/47h50m-Takt 😵💫 #CrossBorderRail
It's then a 3-4 km walk to the poorly located Salamanca bus station on the other side of town. But it's a pleasant walk through the main sights. #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
It's then a 3-4 km walk to the poorly located Salamanca bus station on the other side of town. But it's a pleasant walk through the main sights. #CrossBorderRail
Now some typical RENFE nonsense: you can travel *to* Salamanca La-Alamedilla, but all trains return empty. Anyone know why? Signalling? Or lack of facilities for Seguridad? Or something else? It's the best-located station for the city centre, reducing the distance to walk to the bus station
October 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Now some typical RENFE nonsense: you can travel *to* Salamanca La-Alamedilla, but all trains return empty. Anyone know why? Signalling? Or lack of facilities for Seguridad? Or something else? It's the best-located station for the city centre, reducing the distance to walk to the bus station
MD train at 09:09 the next morning from Ávila to Salamanca La-Alamedilla, sadly now the end of the line for passenger trains on the #CrossBorderRail freight-only line to Vilar Formoso
October 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
MD train at 09:09 the next morning from Ávila to Salamanca La-Alamedilla, sadly now the end of the line for passenger trains on the #CrossBorderRail freight-only line to Vilar Formoso
1. Via Salamanca. From Madrid you can choose between the fast line or the scenic Iberian-gauge line via Ávila. I chose the latter, leaving Madrid Príncipe Pío at 19:37, arriving in Ávila at 21:10 for an overnight stay #CrossBorderRail
October 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
1. Via Salamanca. From Madrid you can choose between the fast line or the scenic Iberian-gauge line via Ávila. I chose the latter, leaving Madrid Príncipe Pío at 19:37, arriving in Ávila at 21:10 for an overnight stay #CrossBorderRail
I think the other side of the triangle was the same, but the wires are up in Elvas. Portuguese freights are still diesel-hauled through to Badajoz though.
October 31, 2025 at 7:55 AM
I think the other side of the triangle was the same, but the wires are up in Elvas. Portuguese freights are still diesel-hauled through to Badajoz though.
Well, here's how the junction of the Badajoz - Elvas/Evora lines looked on Monday this week
October 31, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Well, here's how the junction of the Badajoz - Elvas/Evora lines looked on Monday this week
The Catalan S-Bahn is unfortunately notorious not only for not waiting in Latour-de-Carol but more often that not starting on the Spanish side in Puigcerdà. Having said that, I interpret this as the 08:30 this morning waiting (for some reason) until 08:51, which may offer a glimmer of hope...
September 12, 2025 at 8:37 AM
The Catalan S-Bahn is unfortunately notorious not only for not waiting in Latour-de-Carol but more often that not starting on the Spanish side in Puigcerdà. Having said that, I interpret this as the 08:30 this morning waiting (for some reason) until 08:51, which may offer a glimmer of hope...
Hi @eliasvandeun.bsky.social. Is this here on 8 August a diversion via Verviers or a rescheduling for some other reason in Germany?
June 9, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Hi @eliasvandeun.bsky.social. Is this here on 8 August a diversion via Verviers or a rescheduling for some other reason in Germany?
No trains Görlitz - Zgorzelec until some paperwork is sorted out 😔
#CrossBorderRail
#CrossBorderRail
May 16, 2025 at 2:27 PM
No trains Görlitz - Zgorzelec until some paperwork is sorted out 😔
#CrossBorderRail
#CrossBorderRail