RENFE Regional DMU's

[GospelOak117]

(I have moved this post from the thread 'Worst Train Interiors' as on that thread it has become lost amongst a sea of comments about Pacers)

I once caught a Regional RENFE DMU in Spain (mid 90's) running fast between Tarragonna and Salou on it's way to Barcelona Sants. I'm guessing it was just the carriage I was standing in rather than the whole train (which was only a 2 or 3 car set anyway as I recall), maybe a smoking carriage but it had NO seats at all, just a scattering of leaning posts.

Could anyone who knows anything about Spanish rolling stock shed some light onto what this train may have been? I would love to know. Thanks.....

 

[RichmondCommu]

(I have moved this post from the thread 'Worst Train Interiors' as on that thread it has become lost amongst a sea of comments about Pacers)

I once caught a Regional RENFE DMU in Spain (mid 90's) running fast between Tarragonna and Salou on it's way to Barcelona Sants. I'm guessing it was just the carriage I was standing in rather than the whole train (which was only a 2 or 3 car set anyway as I recall), maybe a smoking carriage but it had NO seats at all, just a scattering of leaning posts.

Could anyone who knows anything about Spanish rolling stock shed some light onto what this train may have been? I would love to know. Thanks.....

In all the years that i travelled through Spain (mid 80's though to early 90's) i can't recall seeing any RENFE DMU's? All the lines i ever travelled on (certainly in and around Barcelona) seemed to be electrified. As an aside I used to hate Sants and i don't suppose it has got any better!

 

[GospelOak117]

I don't think they have many diesel operated routes it seems. Information on spanish units is very limited but from what I can make out watching youtube videos the trains I may be thinking of are the Class 593, built 1982 and sadly eliminated in 2008, with some exported to South America. These 593's look very familiar to those trains working that express service.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOMyc3AxN-g&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7HBaRufsR4&feature=related (very cheesy video :/)

I also sure these are the EMU's I caught on the stopping services, Class 440...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA6Gui2Mu9M&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL also now withdrawn it seems!

The spanish sure don't like 'old' trains!

 

[northwichcat]

Here's a picture of a Renfe interior which is entitled 'Barcelona commuter train 1998' http://www.math.jhu.edu/~wsw/MYPICS/saul4/04_02a.jpg

I've used trains in Barcelona and they were very busy. If a double decker turned up all it meant was you didn't have to stand as close to someone else as on a single decker.

 

[Gordon]

I’m surprised by the comments about lack of diesel railways in Spain, there is still a large amount of non electrified surely?


Check out these maps for the details of electrification:
http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/map.php?file=maps/iberian-peninsula/iberian-peninsula.gif

As at 2005: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Red_ferroviaria_espa_ola.png

In any event I can’t understand why a train on the Tarragona – Salou in the mid-1990s area would have been diesel though as that area has been all electric for many years. If anything I would have thought it would have been a class 440 EMU or similar.

I remember the class 592/593 ‘Camel’ DMUs when they were the latest thing. It’s amazing how short a time they carried this mantle before EU money poured in for more new stuff…

I have to say I haven’t done Spain properly since the early 1990s since I met my wife because she refuses to go there! In contrast between 1969 and the 1980s I went lots as my own family has strong connections with Spain ( see these books by my uncle: http://www.stenvalls.com/shop/?artnr=978-84-9704-439-4
http://www.allbookstores.com/Trenes-Tranvias-Sur-Espana-Trams/9788497043403
)
and travelled there since the 1950s. We have a family friend who is a well known railway author and photographer in Spain and used to stay with him in Salou.

 

[northwichcat]

I’m surprised by the comments about lack of diesel railways in Spain, there is still a large amount of non electrified surely?

Yes Algeciras - a port on the south coast has no overhead wires and has direct services to Granada and Madrid. However, in Barcelona I would imagine the 'DMU' was actually an old not very pleasant EMU.

 

[GospelOak117]

Thanks for the suggestions. It seems I got my wires crossed. As jcollins suggested it must have been an EMU of similar vintage. The class 444 has a very similar front to the 593 and is common on the Valencia-Barcelona line.
http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/es/electric/emu/444/444-1707.jpg
However I am still sure I have seen a 'Camel'; with some of them having worked from Valencia is there possibility they would have made the odd trip towards Barcelona 'under the wires' to cover for an EMU diagram?

I definately did travel on a 440 on my outward stopping journey to Port Aventura and remember that clearly now.

Thanks Gordon for the electrification maps, they may come in handy in the future when trying to find diesel regions .... it is a great shame that the 593 are a victim of EU money and were swept away so quickly, great looking units!