Southern Spain, Gibraltar & Melilla rail/ferry routes

[Watershed]

I intend to spend a week in Spain in the period around Christmas and New Year and have a few questions in order to assist with my planning. Any advice/information would be much appreciated!

First things first - to what extent are public transport (and in particular, RENFE) timetables likely to be impacted by the Bank Holidays/Christmas period? News articles from previous years don't state exact details but suggest a near normal service operates, with the only specifics being an early shutdown on Christmas Eve and late startup on Christmas Day for Madrid Metro services. The RENFE website only shows schedules and fares around 6 weeks in advance so it's not possible to see what they are planning to run yet. Trenitalia-owned Open Access operator Iryo now sells tickets a year in advance...

Wikipedia suggests that Intercity services from Madrid to Algeciras and Almería are hauled by Class 334 diesel locomotives, which seem similar to Class 67s - is this correct? The calling points and journey time for the former imply it takes the Málaga-bound high speed line as far as Antequera. Surely this must involve a loco change somewhere like Antequera - I can't imagine it being diesel hauled for the vast majority of the journey, running at 200km/h over 300km/h high speed lines? Although if so, we can hardly talk, with Voyagers and Adelantes running at 125mph under the wires

The Almería service being diesel hauled throughout seems more plausible as it uses the classic line all the way, AFAICT. Based on what has happened on other classic lines, I presume this service will cease once the Murcia-Almería high speed line opens?

The European rail map which I have shows the entire line from Almería to Algeciras via Granada and Antequera as being scenic - would others concur? There appear to be no direct services, all journeys seemingly requiring (long) interchanges at Granada and Antequera-Santa Ana.

I'm considering incorporating a visit to Gibraltar. It seems there is no longer a ferry from Algeciras, even though this is by far the closest city. Is the bus from Algeciras to La Linea, and then a walk across the border, therefore now the only option by public transport? I understand the infamous road across Gibraltar airport's runway has now closed and been replaced by a tunnel - what does this leave in terms of pedestrian or public transport options for crossing the border?

Melilla also appeals - has anyone been, and if so is it worth visiting? I have seen there are both flight options from Málaga/Almería/Madrid etc. allowing a day trip, as well as the ferry from Málaga which takes longer. Any recommendations for one over the other?

Finally, is there something else that I should consider seeing in the area, that I haven't mentioned above? I visited Málaga and did the Caminito del Rey walk some years back; that was certainly spectacular.

Thanks in advance!

 

[zero]

As far as I know you can still walk or cycle across the runway, see https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/uploads/news/March 2023/Airport Tunnel Info.pdf

You can also walk through the new tunnel but it is a lot further than going the old way.

The buses are rerouted to use the new tunnel but I think the routes are the otherwise the same as before (5 and 10)

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The Madrid - Algerciras through services haven't been reinstated since COVID unfortunately - there are only MD Antequera S.A. - Algerciras and v.v services at present. Class 252 electrics were used to haul between Madrid and Antequra S.A. over the high speed line - the Talgo stock went through the gauge-converter at Antequera.

There is a half-hourly bus service from Algericas Bus Station (just down the road from the rail station) to the Gibraltar frontier. You can still walk or cycle over the airport runway, but all other vehicle use the tunnel. There is also a sporadic bus service to the frontier from San Roque.

The Linares - Moreda classic line is under real threat when the Murcia - Almeria line opens - it has the famous 'horseshoe curve'.

 

[HS2isgood]

Services from Madrid to Algeciras are suspended, returning on mid-October. This is due to works requiring single-tracking of significant stretches of the high-speed line into Andalucía. However, after Covid, the service has been cut from twice a day to once a day. Currently it's served by a Talgo VI branch, with a 252 from Madrid to Antequera and a 334 from there, it'll be replaced soon by a 730 hybrid all the way, running at 250 on the HSL. There's also the 599 DMU service, running three times a day from Antequera SA (it'll be extended, no one knows when, to Antequera Ciudad). Gone are the times where that service would run through to Granada, all change to a 121 from Sevilla at Antequera SA. The Talgo

The Madrid-Almería service still exists, again it's been cut to daily from twice a day because of Covid and it's now served by a Talgo VI instead of the Talgo IV formerly used. Loco changes at Linares-Baeza are also gone, a 334 hauls the set all the way from Madrid-Chamartín to Almería. The service runs both ways in the morning and, in typical Renfe style, they've kept the stops it would have made when there were two trains, so Moreda, Gádor and Fiñana are only served northbound (and Moreda doesn't have any other service!). The future is a 730 service via Granada and the HSL, it's not known whether the Talgo will be kept.

 

[Watershed]

As far as I know you can still walk or cycle across the runway, see https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/uploads/news/March 2023/Airport Tunnel Info.pdf

You can also walk through the new tunnel but it is a lot further than going the old way.

The buses are rerouted to use the new tunnel but I think the routes are the otherwise the same as before (5 and 10)

Thanks - that'll certainly be something to look forward to!

The Madrid - Algerciras through services haven't been reinstated since COVID unfortunately - there are only MD Antequera S.A. - Algerciras and v.v services at present. Class 252 electrics were used to haul between Madrid and Antequra S.A. over the high speed line - the Talgo stock went through the gauge-converter at Antequera.

Yes, I was about to say - I couldn't see any information to suggest the class 334s are capable of gauge changing, so they couldn't possibly work the train throughout. @HS2isgood suggests the through Madrid services are to be reinstated in time for my trip, which would be great. The IC runs non-stop for over 2 hours from Antequera, which sounds "interesting"!

There is a half-hourly bus service from Algericas Bus Station (just down the road from the rail station) to the Gibraltar frontier. You can still walk or cycle over the airport runway, but all other vehicle use the tunnel. There is also a sporadic bus service to the frontier from San Roque.

Great - thanks.

The Linares - Moreda classic line is under real threat when the Murcia - Almeria line opens - it has the famous 'horseshoe curve'.

I'll certainly see if I can get that done then. It's a shame how RENFE has withdrawn passenger services over lots of "classic lines" after the opening of parallel high speed lines; it's understandable in a sense, but there are some not insubstantial (10k+ population) towns which have totally lost their rail service as a result. I must go and do the classic line into León before that's replaced...

Services from Madrid to Algeciras are suspended, returning on mid-October. This is due to works requiring single-tracking of significant stretches of the high-speed line into Andalucía. However, after Covid, the service has been cut from twice a day to once a day. Currently it's served by a Talgo VI branch, with a 252 from Madrid to Antequera and a 334 from there, it'll be replaced soon by a 730 hybrid all the way, running at 250 on the HSL.

Thanks - when you say "soon", would you expect this to already be the case by Christmas time? I've taken a 730 to Ferrol before and must admit I wasn't really that impressed.

There's also the 599 DMU service, running three times a day from Antequera SA (it'll be extended, no one knows when, to Antequera Ciudad). Gone are the times where that service would run through to Granada, all change to a 121 from Sevilla at Antequera SA. The Talgo

I think your post cut off mid sentence here

The Madrid-Almería service still exists, again it's been cut to daily from twice a day because of Covid and it's now served by a Talgo VI instead of the Talgo IV formerly used. Loco changes at Linares-Baeza are also gone, a 334 hauls the set all the way from Madrid-Chamartín to Almería. The service runs both ways in the morning and, in typical Renfe style, they've kept the stops it would have made when there were two trains, so Moreda, Gádor and Fiñana are only served northbound (and Moreda doesn't have any other service!). The future is a 730 service via Granada and the HSL, it's not known whether the Talgo will be kept.

How are the Talgo VI sets? Are they reasonably comfortable for the 6-hour journey to Almería, and are there any refreshments available, either a buffet or a complimentary service of any kind in Preferente class?

 

[nwales58]

Preferente no longer exists. The full service is Premium on AVE only.

Elige is now the opening to a pick-and-choose menu. On services with 1+2 seating you can have it for less the Premium by choosing Elige Confort, or option Asiento extragrande Confort.

If you want full meal, only available on AVE services as far as I have seen recently, you can add it to Elige Confort without paying Premium. A simpler snack box is also available on Elige.

Almeria services have Elige Confort, catering has 6 options all boxes.

Browse all the options, seat selection costs, changeable and refundable all cost extra.

 

[dutchflyer]

Well hopefully as above suggests the branch line, as it effectively is by now, to Algesiras is due back agin in service, as when I stayed in nearby Torremolinos last march it turned out to be mostly substitute BUS when I seacrhed for some trips.
ONCFM, Morrocco railways, on my last visit some 4-5 yrs ago by now, are quite fine, a bit antique SNCF with CoRail type cars and now mostly even a steady 2-hr frequency and all seats REServed, also quite cheap still. But ´net´work is quite limited to some major hauls.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I did the Talgo from Cordoba to Algeciras a few years ago. I think it arrived from Madrid. I was actually staying in Puente Genil however, as the Talgo didn't stop there, I had to catch an AVE the short distance to Cordoba.