Hendaye - Irun border crossing

[LouJ]

How close are the French and Spanish stations? Is it an easy walk or do you need a taxi?

 

[gordonthemoron]

according to DB, 2.6km

 

[Chris999999]

Use the Euskotren Trena, Metro Donostialdea line from Hendaye to Irun.

The Euskotren station at Hendaye is just outside the SNCF station and the station you need for Irun, is Irun Colon about 5 minutes walk to the RENFE station.

 

[jopsuk]

Where are the Standard to Iberian gauge transfer and gauge-change facilities? French or Spanish side?

 

[Oscar]

There are gauge transfer and gauge change facilities on both sides and an standard gauge and Iberian gauge line between the two stations.

 

[LouJ]

One further question about operations at Irun.

At what stage does the Paris to Madrid Trenhotel go through the gauge changer? I assume that the train arrives loco hauled from Paris at Irun and then goes through the gauge changer.

I am planning to use the Trenhotel from St Jean de luz to Irun and get a connection to the Vigo/A Coruna train and am wondering about how everything works.

Thanks for any help or information.

 

[30907]

A look at Googlemaps suggests that the gauge-changing shed is just on the Spanish side of the border bridge (it's a single-track building about one vehicle long if you want to look yourself).

But according to the public timetable the train has no public stop between Poitiers and Vitoria

 

[LouJ]

I have realised that it isn't the Trenhotel. It's the 2154 Austrelitz to Irun overnight passenger. I assume this uses standard gauge tracks into Irun station and therefore doesn't need the wheels regauging.

 

[30907]

Yes. There are separate S/G and B/G tracks, same at Cerbere-Port Bou, and all terminating passenger trains cross the border loaded and return empty.
Except for the Lisbon Trenhotel - this now starts back from Hendaye to give a better TGV connection from Paris.

 

[cgcenet]

Why can't they return across the border loaded?

 

[30907]

You may well ask!
The border controls (pre Schengen) were in different stations for each direction, thus keeping the two flows of passengers separate. And in any case the returning long-distance empties went into the carriage sidings, I suspect. The FEVE local trains cater(ed) for local travellers.