Northern Spains UNIQUE narrow gauge railway has one MAJOR flaw | Bilbao - San Sebastian on Euskotren
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- čas přidán 13. 05. 2023
- Follow me on Twitter / intercitysimon
Today we are taking a ride on the one of a kind Euskotrain narrow gauge railway in northern spain's basque country. The line is a strange mix of Metro / Regional rail service operating mostly in tunnels in Bilbao and San Sebastian as a metro style service while operating more as a regional rail intercity style train between the cities. Come along for a ride in great scenery while i point out the major issues with the service.
Train type: Euskotren 900 series (CAF)
Route: Bilbao to San Sebastian
Train: Line E1 (16:55 from Bilbao-Matiko)
Distance: 110 km
Journey time: 2h44m
Average speed: 41
Price: 6.50 euro
No local would ever take this train from Bilbao to Donostia. Busses and soon high speed trains are meant for that. The seats are great for what this train service is: a smart combination of metro and local train bringing you into the heart of Bilbao. It is not an "identity crisis", it is a superb urban and regional travel system developed from what was originally an interlocal train system which used to have its terminus station in Bilbao inconveniently far from the centre. Check it out next time you are in town: it is now a tram depot and the tram line runs through it. Beware of more "identity crisis" lol
The old ATXURI termimal station for the old FERROCARRILES VASCOS BILBAO-SAN SEBASTIAN line is a JEWEL
I'd agree with you except that I've been doing this whole route many times just because the bus service sometimes gets WAY too full, up to the point where every bus for 4h is already full. These days it is necessary to get a seat in advance.
Great Video, As usual.
The system you've used is the local version of regional train and , unfortunately, the metric gauge and the system as a whole, is limited by type of trains and speeds. This train is aimed more to serve the small locations you've passed along the way than a trip from Bilbao to Donostia - San Sebastián as it is long and slow, due to the restriction of the system. The direct bus is much faster (about 1h20) and costs almost the same (the train's regular fare is 6.50€, if you search for trains the price is shown but the PDF is horrible.
The use of regional/suburban train also as a local metro is not unique to Spain but the character of the metric rail system makes it look more like a metro.
The future for this ride is the new high speed rail, under construction. The line, known as Y as it connects Bilbao, Donostia - San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz in a Y shape with connections for all directions so once finished (probably in 2027) the direct connection will be made by high speed trains. The line will also reach the French boarder but France refuses to build it's part, as obligated by the EU, which now pressuring them to build it by 2030, as required by EU decisions as it's part of the Atlantic Corridor.
Yeah thought so, it does not make much sense to use the train for longer journeys, unless there is no direct bus, shame because its a very nice line otherwise. Thanks for pointing out the fare, ill update the description, 7 euro wasn't a bad guess then :D. Ill look forward to seeing the new Y line
@@Simon-Andersen With current discounts/bonification, using a Mugi card (gipuzkoan card) it would be 4,4€ for the tourist card and 3,35€ for the resident card
Of course the French refuse to cooperate. Happens all the time when ml anyone has a rail project with them.
That line is not intended to be used from Bilbao to SS. It's Just 2 interconnected metro lines from both metropolitan areas so people in the neighboring towns can move quick and easily. There are actually proper train lines to go from Bilbao to SS. Anyway, great video and thanks for the compliments about the scenery!
Which ones are suitable to go from Bilbao to SS? I want to go in 2 days but I can't find any alternatives
@@slavakaza By Bus, Pesa / lurraldebus
@@joanesrs5169 Saw the website of Pesa and it looked like they stopped service 15 years ago with the website stuck in 2010 xD
@@slavakaza Indeed the website seems to not have been updated since the 2010s. In any case, if you are a visitor, it's cheaper to use the Alsa bus service (7€ vs 13€), which is actually even slightly faster.
@@CityWhisperer Depends how much you are going to take public transportation, with the Mugi card it's just 4,4€
In 2014 I took the boat from Plymouth UK to stay in Santander just because I wanted to ride on the FEVE narrow gauge trains. I made a trip from Santander to Bilbao, another very scenic line which winds it's way through the mountains but on reaching Bibao we arrived not into a Metro station but into a terminal specially for narrow gauge trains named "La Concordia". This station was a lovely old building and there was even an old narrow gauge steam engine on display. The line from Bilbao to San Sebastian is really quaint and quirky and I really want to ride it. I wonder if the ferries still run from Portsmouth to Bilbao - don't worry I'll look it up. Thanks for a Great Video - you really give me some wonderful travel ideas most of which will never come to pass though this one just might.
There's a ferry from Portsmouth (twice a week) but I'm not sure if there's still one from Plymouth.
The 900 series, whilst being perfectly adequate trains for suburban work, are really too utilitarian for long distances. You’re right about the seats.
In the days when Axturi was Bilbao’s Euskotren terminus many Bermeo trains used 3500 stock inherited from FEVE. These had 2+1, reversible-back, deep-cushioned seats and were very comfortable despite their age. The 200 series weren’t too bad, either.
It seems that, as trains become more recent, a good deal of the previous consideration for passenger comfort is relegated in favour of wipe-clean surfaces and more crowded seating layouts. The Bilbo - Donostia route is very scenic by both train and bus but any semblance of ‘style’ has diminished in direct proportion to rising costs. If you’re waiting for the ‘Basque Y’ it’s been being postponed for at least the last decade. Some sections of the earlier-constructed infrastructure has had its quality questioned but this may have been resolved.
The line you see in San Sebastian tunnels is actually the real Metro line, called Topo, which is under construction, and probablu will be finished in a couple of years or 5 years.
The San Sebastian CENTImetro is what you are talking about. The train may start as far as LEZAMA (Txoriherri Line) until Matiko, from where it SHARES THE TRACK with Bilbao Metro Line 3 until Etxebarri or Azbarren in Basauri, then uses the OLD FF.VV. line to San Sebastian
No, not in 5 years. It will be finished in 2 years, 2025.
@@randomdaniel3024 Thats why I put a couple of years or 5 years because I didn't know exactly
As always, superb video and honest reviews ❤
They are making just a Euskotren Metro line fore trains not terminating at Amara
That tunnel you mentioned will go under the city making a girth, avoiding the terminal station, Amara, continuing te trip to Irun and the french station of Hendaye. Now it is time to continue the way to Hendaye. By the way, Spain has the biggest narrow gauge network of Europe, about 1600 km. Specialy in the North. This is why you found trains similar to metros. But there are also freight trains in those lines. czcams.com/video/foCTm_pHM5w/video.html
Oo cool did not know about the freight! I need to come back and spend some more time in the north of spain
@@Simon-Andersen YES; You DO NEED IT
I travelled on this 'train' from San Sebastian to Hendaye as part of a 2000 mile all rail journey around France and Spain. This is currently,as far as I know to actually cross from Spain into France. Most terminate in Irun.
I found this service very convenient and it serves both local and tourist traffic equally. Until the high speed line is completed to Irun/Hendaye, I think its a good service.
Very good video! But at the end of the video, you mention that the bus is cheaper and faster. Faster yes but it is much more expensive than the euskotren. Once I took the Lurraldebus (Bilbao-San Sebastian) and it cost more than €18.
The ticket with which you pay is a Barik (Bizkaya transport consortium card). And it is cheaper than a paper/cardboard ticket. The paper/cardboard ticket to San Sebastián costs €6.50 and with the Barik costs €1.99👍👍👍👍
Good point! I actually did not know the bus was that much more expensive, but the train is deffo a good option to save money then :D
Thanks for the content
From the Basque Country
Great video, Simon! 🙂
I totally agree regarding the seats - I was glad to take a walk around San Sebastian after being sat on that glorified barbecue patio chair for 2¾hrs...
As someone has already mentioned, Renfe will be along with a fast link in the next few years.
It will be nice to have a faster option between the cities, lets hope Renfe puts on more than 2 trains a day which seems to be the case for a lot of their other lines unfortunatly
As with other places there is a difference between medium distance trains and long distance ones. Connection between Bilbao ans San Sebastian will be a medium distance one, or the Avant service in most places, but a few autonomous regions are trying to be more independent, including with train. In Catalunya (where I live) the Generalitat tries to remove Renfe as the regional operator so new lines are operated by the local FGC (the new airpot line will be operated by them). In Basque country it's the same with Euskotren and they are the ones that will operate the local high speed lines.
As for Renfe. They curently have a roling stock problem as first sets of the new Talgo Avril train were supposed to be delivered in January 2021 now they will be delivered toward the end of this year, or even at the beginning of 2024 (so they might not be available for the planned innogoration of the new high speed connection to Asturias in November).
Renfe is asking a 116 millions Euros compensation for this delay.
@@Simon-Andersen The Basque Country government intends to run the high-speed line with Euskotren, with trains every 30 min at peak hours between the three cities (1h in valley hours) and the same discounts as current buses and trains
Hace unos años, eran lineas separadas, en 2018, construyeron la estacion de kukullaga y conectaron la linea de casco viejo-lutxana-lezama con la de -bilbao atxuri-bermeo-san sebastian. Las estaciones como matiko no estaban soterradas, la estacion de matiko estaba justo encima de la soterrada y se metia en un tunel
I just saw Nordic Rail today n it was a very pleasant watch. Y don't u do something similar to that - just a small request.
Super video
It really seems like there’s an opportunity to operate a more comfortable tourist train on this route in addition to these service to take advantage of the scenery.
Although it SEEMS a Mid-distance train, it is JUST a SEQUENCE of LINKED COMMUTER trainlines; hence the 41 km average speed due to LOTS OF STOPS and the LACK of charging plugsm nor WiFi. Only people-not-in-a-hurry goes to San Sebastian this way
The tunnel portal as u enter Donostia (san Sebastián) is to be the ‘topo’. Metro trains from Lasarte will go into it so they don’t have to reverse at Amara to continue on to Hendaia. It should be open by 2026
Pleaase do a review on Iryo and ave 103 on the route Madrid Barcelona. I will teavel onboard them very soon
We have nice hard seats on long distance trains here in the UK... We call them ironing boards ☹️
I've heared of those. Best avoided I think
@@Simon-Andersen bring your own cushion!
I was in Bilbao Spain for a month
Hi. This is very interesting video for me. I use regulary those trains (E2 line, which one goes at the viaduct in the final part of the video, from Lasarte Oria to Hendaia, France). Also i have went in the E1 line. Before the modernisation of Euskotren float there were semi-direct services to Bilbao. Actually the service is not working, but the actual service can be cheaper than the bus. If you have a Mugi or Barik personalizated card is cheaper than going in the bus (the anonimous card is more expensive). So if you dont have so much money is one option to go to Bilbo. The unfinished tunnel at Donostia is the new passant of the "Topo" (E2 line nickname) that haves a 150% of overcost and is provoking damages on the city (it goes under the beach and the stupid administration of ETS is saying that they found water,ohhh what surprise!)
Thanks for watching, some good info about the system :D
@@Simon-Andersen if you use that line nowadays the service is interrupted from Zarautz to Zumaia and you have to take a bus
I have not seen the video. I just want to say that if you are tourists visiting the Basque Country this is the worst option to travel between these 2 cities: Bilbao & Donostia/San Sebastian. This train is ssssssslllllllloooooowwwwwwww, it stops in every town and city possible and sometimes more.
Buses take one hour and 20 minutes each way. Between €20 and €25 each way. I think this is the best option and you can also choose some beautiful destinations in between like Elorrio (one of the most beautiful Basque villages, the village of the Coats of Arms, full of old houses and palaces, close to the magical Necropolis of Argiñeta, with tombstones from the 9th century...), Zarautz (amazing coast, Museum of Photography, Balenciaga Museum , Durango (historical buildings and old town, right next to the Natural Park of Urkiola...)....
Yes you are right! Mentioned at the end of the video as well :-) I think the train is cheaper and its scenic but not much reason to take it all the way otherwise
0:49 four* languages
Ah yeah good catch!
Very nice trip. Would be nice to make some trip in Ukraine - proposition for you=)
I will definitely visit Ukraine! It's on top of the travel bucket list 🇺🇦
@@Simon-Andersen write if you will travel here, maybe I could help you to find the most beautiful routes and to know interesting people work in UZ to communicate.
I think this will be after ukrainian victory in the war, isn't it?)
@@barefram Yes this will be as soon as the situation settles down, with a victory for Ukraine :-)
Flixbus 1H20 LOL
This train is not fit for a 3-hour journey.
FIT it really is BUT... MEANT FOR? NO!
Excellent video, thanks. Just the intro I needed.
I guess this line is narrow gauge because of hilly terrain.
Can anyone tell me whether bicycles can be taken on these trains? I suspect not, as the trains are small inside.
I live in France and like the French trains. What is the part the French are oblihed to build but do not want to do?
Bordeaux-Hendaye is already fast-ish and easy by train.
You can bring your bike on and its free! Saw a few during the journey do it :-) I dont know much about the plans for the new line, so hopefully someone else can comment on that
Super video
They are making just a Euskotren Metro line fore trains not terminating at Amara