Dougal2345
Member
- Joined
- 29 Oct 2009
- Messages
- 633
Just a quick question - I was planning to travel the scenic route from Perpignan -> Barcelona this coming Friday, using the Little Yellow Train along the way.
But I've just checked the SNCF site - it's showing the Yellow trains as cancelled on Sun 11 and Mon 12, with a bus instead, and no information for Tuesday onwards.
Is there any way to find out what's causing the cancellations and whether they will continue? There's no obvious link on the site. If they will continue, I might as well book a TGV ticket from Perpignan to Barcelona now...
Or would it be worth enduring a bus to Latour-de-Carol anyway, is the Rodalies service from there to Barcelona worth riding from a scenic point of view?
Incidentally, this will be my third attempt this year to travel on the Little Yellow Train.
First time, I rolled up at Perpignan station in the morning to find the train to Villefranche was a bus, departing at the same time, but arriving later. Of course they'd hold the Yellow Train... well, perhaps not
The second time, my incoming train to Perpignan the night before was delayed due to the strike. After getting to my hotel after 1am after 18+ hours travelling, I didn't really fancy getting up less than five hours later the next morning...
But I have a feeling this won't be third time lucky! Still, the Ibis in Perpignan must be happy that I keep booking there
But I've just checked the SNCF site - it's showing the Yellow trains as cancelled on Sun 11 and Mon 12, with a bus instead, and no information for Tuesday onwards.
Is there any way to find out what's causing the cancellations and whether they will continue? There's no obvious link on the site. If they will continue, I might as well book a TGV ticket from Perpignan to Barcelona now...
Or would it be worth enduring a bus to Latour-de-Carol anyway, is the Rodalies service from there to Barcelona worth riding from a scenic point of view?
Incidentally, this will be my third attempt this year to travel on the Little Yellow Train.
First time, I rolled up at Perpignan station in the morning to find the train to Villefranche was a bus, departing at the same time, but arriving later. Of course they'd hold the Yellow Train... well, perhaps not
The second time, my incoming train to Perpignan the night before was delayed due to the strike. After getting to my hotel after 1am after 18+ hours travelling, I didn't really fancy getting up less than five hours later the next morning...
But I have a feeling this won't be third time lucky! Still, the Ibis in Perpignan must be happy that I keep booking there
) terrain at the top as you leave Latour de Carol towards Puigcerdà, dropping into rugged moorland for a while around La Molina before the rapid descent down the valley through forests, with the railway clinging to the sides of cliffs or steep hillsides. Once you hit Ripoll (look out for the two old locos parked up there, one fitted with snowploughs and the other rusting away) things flatten out, but with the mountains still surrounding the views are still worth it. The station at Vic is surprisingly large and modern, and from there the line seems flat with mostly agricultural surroundings. The last few miles are more industrial and not quite as pretty as you weave through the sprawl of Barcelona. There are often delays due to the large sections of single track, and being suburban stock there's no catering so bring some sandwiches. The large windows do offer great views though, providing they haven't been graffiti'd. There's graffiti pretty much everywhere on the Spanish side, even high in the hills, but the interiors of the trains are kept largely free. The most disappointing/boring part of the journey is the final few stops in the underground section of the city to Sants station, but you'd get that whichever way you arrive.