Night trains in Spain

[Hoofhearted]

Hello there. Are there still night trains (sleepers) running in Spain? They were stopped during Covid, and they were not re-instated afterwards. Is that still the case. I was hoping to take the Barcelona to Vigo sleeper if it was still running.

 

[JB_B]

As far as I know there are no regular sleeper services currently running in Spain ( apart from the odd luxury/charter train. )

 

[30907]

As far as I know there are no regular sleeper services currently running in Spain ( apart from the odd luxury/charter train. )

And IIRC the most recent stock has been (or was planned to be?) refitted for day use. A direct train via Madrid could do the run in 7h (compare with Malaga and Seville, 6hr), so I suspect it will never return

 

[rvdborgt]

Hello there. Are there still night trains (sleepers) running in Spain?

Renfe used COVID as an excuse to get rid of their last night trains.

 

[Dumpton Park]

Nope, nothing now.

The glory days of fresh-cooked meals and unlimited included drinks in Gran Clase in the restaurant on trenhotels are long gone! Not really much of a need for them now, as almost all the journeys that produced them are now reaching the point of being the equivalent duration of London-Edinburgh. 30 years ago there were loads of overnight trains - sometimes even a trenhotel and a non-talgo Estrella on the same routes. Chamartin was very atmospheric, with trains heading off in all directions, often splitting en route.

Now things tail off after about 9pm. I think even the luxury trains mostly stop overnight in stations or sidings.

B

 

[HS2isgood]

Sadly all gone

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Nope, nothing now.

The glory days of fresh-cooked meals and unlimited included drinks in Gran Clase in the restaurant on trenhotels are long gone! Not really much of a need for them now, as almost all the journeys that produced them are now reaching the point of being the equivalent duration of London-Edinburgh. 30 years ago there were loads of overnight trains - sometimes even a trenhotel and a non-talgo Estrella on the same routes. Chamartin was very atmospheric, with trains heading off in all directions, often splitting en route.

Now things tail off after about 9pm. I think even the luxury trains mostly stop overnight in stations or sidings.

B

Yes, there was even an Estrella to Torremolinos after the line was converted to broad-gauge in 1975!

There is talk of reviving the 'Sud Express' (Lisbon - Irun / Hendaye) but RENFE isn't interested so it would be an all CP 'open-access' affair. Goodness knows what stock it would use.

 

[signed]

Goodness knows what stock it would use

The rumors are that they will use their existing seated Corail sets while waiting for the French night train tender to release the French Intercités de Nuit sets (so around 2030) for conversion to broad-gauge and usage on those services.

 

[parkender102]

I remember getting the Night Train Sleeper/Trenhotel a few years ago Paris to Barcelona and also Paris to Venice. Great journeys with our young kids with exclusive use of a Couchette and a picnic. Both now sadly gone. However there is still a sleeper from Vienna and Munich to Venice and many other European Sleeper options for many different countries so maybe you could tailor a trip on the way to Spain or on the way back. The Man in Seat 61 is the place to check.

 

[nwales58]

In any case, Barcelona-Vigo is now comfortable in a day in about 8 1/2 hours via Madrid (RENFE actually sell connections nowadays, even including Ave+Avlo) or 14 hours on the through Alvia. Plus Vueling a couple of times a day to Vigo alone so market for sleeper will be tiny even throwing in the rest of Galicia.

 

[rvdborgt]

In any case, Barcelona-Vigo is now comfortable in a day in about 8 1/2 hours via Madrid (RENFE actually sell connections nowadays, even including Ave+Avlo)

They only sell Renfe-approved connections and refuse to sell other useful connections, that you can often find with e.g. bahn.com.