The automatic guage change is pretty simple. The axle on the train has two positions the wheels can rest in and a lock that keeps them in that position. When changing guage the train goes over an installation that first unlocks the wheel location, then the rail diverges to the wider guage or converges to a narrow guage. The wheel is free to move along the axle with the rail. Once in position the system locks the wheel in position. Done.
I was impressed that they discounted the fare because of suspended food service. That's the first time I can remember any line doing this even though so many of the pandemic era services suspended food offerings. It seemed a pleasant, if slow journey, but hard, uncomfortable seats would be a big minus.
Very true 👍 A very good point !! 👍 Airlines don't give us discounts, either for stopping any services ! Lol. A very logical & ethical company !!Happy New Year !🚈💕💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🎈🍾🥂💞
The first time I travelled on RENFE was from Málaga to Madrid about 20 years ago. At that time the high speed track had not been connected to Málaga so, as a result, when we reached Córdoba we went through a long shed where I gather that every bogey was changed so that the train could run from there to Madrid on the AVE lines. Last month I took the AVE from Málaga to Madrid in under 3 hours!
The train you travel on was a Talgo 200, in the shed what they did was changing the gauge of the Talgo and fitting a UIC locomotive to it. You can see the operation on this video th-cam.com/video/dJ_EA1OyHX4/w-d-xo.html.
Most of the iberian gauge tracks were buit in 18th century standards, tunnels and viaducts were constructed only if they were essential. Most tracks take a detour following valleys or rivers instead of crossing them with tunnels and viaducts. In this zone from Zaragoza to Pamplona is still flat, so speeds of 140-160 km/h are possible. Between Pamplona and Vitoria or Miranda de Ebro - Orduña port - Bilbao are more montanious and the average speed is 90-100 km/h. New high speed lines are being built, but are in initial work stages. Another example. Recently the high speed line Madrid - Galicia has been completed and opened as far as Ourense. From Barcelona to Galicia the direct route is 11 hours (High speed line until Zaragoza, then gauge change and iberian classic lines for the rest of the journey). If you go via Madrid entirely on high speed lines, journey time cuts to 5-6 hours (depending on how many stations are called in the journey)
Before the AVE Madrid - Barcelona took 10+ hours! Technology didn´t exist in the 1800´s that why the train tracks went on big detours. Before 2000´s no one used the Spanish rail networks for long journeys. The bigger Spanish gauge is all down to better traction for the steam engines!
You were right on the fact that most people will prefer planes on this route right now. With the opening of the Basque Y and hopefully the Castejón to Pamplona high speed line, journey times on this route will be shortened by a lot! Vitoria-Gasteiz to Bilbao now takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes, with Basque Y it will take about 30 minutes. A faster track from Castejón to Pamplona will easily cut 25 minutes off, and a possible high speed rail line from Pamplona to Basque Y can do the same, eventually shortening this trip from 6 hours and 40 minutes to 4 hours and 30. In theory, with less stops and a high speed line from Zaragoza towards to ones I just mentioned, less than 4 hours is also possible. This might sound optimistic, but the Basque Y is in fact almost finished and the other lines are in serious consideration. When built, they can also become a fast connection from Madrid to the French border. If an LGV from Bordeaux southwards to the same border will be constructed, Paris to Madrid can be done a lot faster than now via Barcelona .Let's hope they will be built!
The gauge changing mecanism is pretty simple, the wheels and their axis are decouplable from eachother, the train rolls on the wheels axis while the wheels are changed of position on a special piece of track. Once in place at the new gauge, the wheels are recoupled on their axis and the train continues its journey. It is a purely mecanic maneuver, the only thing to do is advance at slow speed and the process is done by itself. The whole process is actually pretty genius when you think about it.
I've heard Renfe's Alvia sets are being refurbished in the next coming years, hopefully to boost its image given Spanish railways are going through MASSIVE competition from other European operators.
That'll be good 👍 As they looked really needed to ! As Dylan pointed out reg.the padding of the seats ! I also noticed of the floor ! And the sink of the bathroom / toilet. It'll help their business. Happy New Year 🐯 ✨ 🎈💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈💞
Massive? Just two competitors (Ouigo and Iryo), and only in high speed services (AVE). Renfe has no competition at all in any service that involves using the Iberian gauge network. The only company that could maybe do it is ALSA (a massive bus operator), but they only operate touristic trains right now.
Talgo has several videos on gauge changing stuff as its one of their big selling points of their trains. But anyways what happens is there is, each axle has different slots for each gauge that the wheels are locked into, and on the side in the gauge change facility is a different kind of rail. Not a traditional rail but a little watercoated metal rail. These trains have a little platform that rests on this as it passes through. When it does, it leaves the physical track and the wheels are left suspended and unlocked. While it is so and the train moves through, different guide rails push the wheel to the new gauge it needs to be fitted to where it locks into place and begins resting on the new tracks as the water coated track on the side ends.
12:02 - @Dylan's Travel Reports th-cam.com/video/qwNl-g_91GE/w-d-xo.html Here's a infomercial by railway rollingstock manufacturer Talgo. It shows the process of axle gauge changing. A few of the rollingstock RENFE uses can gauge change, particularly S-130, S730, Alvia S-120, any of the Talgo low-floor rollingstock. I think some locomotives can change gauge too, depends on if they have a special bogie built by Talgo. S-100, S-103 can not gauge change.
Thank you for a great review ! I do like the Alvia S120 trains, and find their interiors bright and refreshing, especially so in comparison to a GWR IET ! The lack of passengers is distinctly worrying though.
12:20 Gauge change! That is what those "sheds" are for! I passed through them tons of times going between Madrid and Ourense (where I lived until October) and I never knew what they were. Thank you.
Another great vid. RENEFE has went right ahead with introducing new high speed trains and influenced train travel in Spain. It’s a few years since I was in Bcn Sants and I have say the pickpocket capital of the world with Santa being infamous for that very reason so if your travelling through the station make sure you have wallets/purses firmly secured
Turkish high speed operator TCDD is using this CAF trains for high speed lines too. But they don't have gauge change function. Also they are slowly replacing them with Siemens Valero sets.
A bit different from when I was in Spain. Steam locomotives and wooden slatted seats. The carriages had open balconies at the end, with curly wrought iron decorations. The main Barcelona station had an overall glazed roof.
Telling your age lol Yep single line as well from port boy to gerona an a nice leasurely 20mph lol 1961 shock after the overnight sleeper to Toulouse lol
Happy New Year Dylan. Speaking of Renfe S120 S121 it's made by Alstom and CAF. I can probably see the American version of this train being made in Upstate New York Elmira CAF propulsion unit Alstom Hornell/ Plattsburgh the old Bombardier Transportation plant
As usal Dylan, very intersting. Especiall as you mention the changing of gauge. I am not a sepcialist on this. I only know that many, many yeras ago when theere was a change, the people had to change trains. An uncle of mine told me that there was a time when they lifted the wagons slightly, I never knew if the people remained on the train or not. Now it seems much easier. thank to some wonderful mechanism. Thank you very much and a very happy new year to you. Willam Grant.
Well Dylan, this was another tale of 2 cities. You start off in a nice airport, quite modern. The train looks top of the line too. I've never seen a train station that scams your bags. It must be a nuisance, but it is a nice safety feature. Once onboard things go downhill. I thought the seats seemed quite narrow. Maybe it was the camera or just me. I would be concerned with that window blind. It would be my luck to have someone in front of me pull it down. Part of my train interest is getting to see the scenery. Those seats didn't look comfortable enough or roomy enough. The scenery was lovely, but I'd be with you & for the time & price I'd fly also. Six hours versus one, it's a no brainer. Looking forward to your next trip on Monday.
In october I have travelled extensively on hours-long trips on these units. I found them adequate. The green/white-ish interior looks simple and even sterile. But my opinion in this case was it was calm on the eye. You are handed ear-buds for the 'in-flight' entertainment in Elige Confort (Preferente).
Oh...lol. lol I indeed know one !! He is scared of flights !! Lol. I guess it's not a joke for those scared of flying ! I get it !! But, they should know that we've got way more car accidents & chances to get involved in automobile 🚘 accidents than air crashes ! I love flying !!! But, I get real nervous during the take offs & especially the landings !!! As you know those are the most accident prone times ,very difficult to land smoothly ,especially against cross winds !! I've been in many scary experiences during my flights actually !!! Lol. I am not gonna mention those here as I don't want you to read 'em & tell that family member of yours !! Lol. I've flown around 80 + flights & there were some 6 to 7 seriously alerting situations !!! Lol. Happy New Year ! 🐯 🎈🍾🥂💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈💞
@@spark_6710 Maybe they’re not afraid of accidents. I’m “afraid” of flying because I’m claustrophobic and once in, there’s a bunch of people in a small space (much more than in a train), you can’t open windows and can’t leave if it becomes too much (like you could on a train or a bus). So in my eyes I’m effectively trapped, which triggers my fears and is the only reason I don’t fly. I couldn’t care less about accidents and I actually find turbulence fun
@@prettylittleravenna I see !! Lol. Poor you ! My mom is claustrophobic, but she loves flying !!! We both love planes & flying ! But, she can't sit in the middle isle !! As she'll panick like you said ! Thank you so much for your reply ! And Happy New Year ! 🐯🥂💜🚈🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
@@spark_6710 Happy New Year to you too. Actually I’m glad about my condition because it made me explore train travel, and it allowed me to see such beautiful diversity of sights during travel, which I wouldn’t in the plane.
@@prettylittleravenna That's true ! Lol. You can enjoy much more views on trains !!! Lol. I agree 👍 I love train travels the most ,then traveling by airplanes !! I love driving ,but traveling by automobiles is my least favourite !! Lol. Thank you so much for your replies !! I am hoping this crazy travel restrictions will be over very soon !! So that we can travel more easily again !! 👍🚈✈💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
Great Video. Would often catch that service as I travel between Barcelona and Lleida. You should go to the latter in May. They have a few festivals, one - the snail festival - is held in a large glass building near the railway station.
Hello, Dylan, HNY and thanks for all your work. Just an extra bit of info on travel to Bilbao and the Basque country. From Paris take the TGV or other train route to Hendaye on the border and from there change to the narrow-gauge Euskotren via San Sebastian and other interesting places. But with the revival of overnight sleepers wouldn't it be great to see a revival of the direct Sud Express from Paris to Madrid - although it used to have manual - and noisy gauge changing in the middle of the night at Hendaye / Irun. Sadly I think it's too far from Austria for the Nightjet!!!
I love the trains in Spain, and especially Catalonia. I have spent many an hour at Port Bou near the border with France watching the world passing by...great video too.....Happy New Year, and here's looking forward to your next year of travel vlogs...
Micheal Portillo, in one of his railway journeys, covers the Spanish gauge changer and a visit to the CAF factory and drives, guess what?, a 195!! When I first visited Barcelona nearly 20 years ago I was very impressed that mainline trains travel under the city - now pretty common place these days thinking about cross rail.
Beautiful country along the way; that would be my primary reason for taking the train instead of flying. While you were in Bilbao were you able to see the Guggenheim/Bilbao museum? Enjoy your travel reports, ¡hasta lunes mí amigo!
@@DylansTravelReports All trains till Wednesday go to Kirkstall Forge then rail replacement bus to Leeds until Wednesday and thanks for replying it means a lot
Happy New Year, Dylan and to everybody here🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂 - Dylan, at 9:30 or so I couldn't quite understand what you referred to as hideous...I think it had to do with the seat(s).
I didn't like the looks of those seats immediately. Scanty comes to mind. Sad? You know, there was a time when I wondered if Dylan narrating would be good or bad. Now it's a natural part of life! ☺️☺️
I agree about Dylan's narration. I liked the early, silent ones because they were so different from the usual channel. But I now like the narration better. You don't miss any scenery and he can fill you in on so much more.
@@kippen64 You can usually add 3h to any flight, maybe less if the airports are close to the centre of the city and easily accessible, more if not. So a 1h flight takes 4h, compared to a 6h train journey, on which you don't have to up sticks and mice from transfer to waiting area to airport bus to plane and thr same in reverse.
I respectfully disagree with regards to the seat moquette. I like the turquoise-esque color as it reminds me of the sea, and I think it goes well with the white interior. Curiously there are some CAF trains here in New Zealand as well, but they only run in the city of Auckland. I've been on the so-called 'AM' units enough times to confidently say that they've got a pretty smooth ride quality.
The reason for the bigger gauge is all down to the age of steam engines & better traction! Zaragoza & Lleida, there is a high speed line than avoids both cities. So it´s possible to do Madrid - Barcelona, at a virtual none stop speed of around 300 km/h. Also it is a different overhead line current, I´m not sure the overheads on the none AVE lines give the train enough power to get up to 250km/h even if the train was permitted.
Love all your videos Dylan. Over 6 hours without catering in an uncomfortable seat though...I did snigger at the 'bin' which looks like an old cigarette butt bin
As a spaniard I have to say that I hate the interior aesthetics in most of Renfe's medium and long distance trains. Everything is white, it looks like a damn hospital. AVEs at least have some wood (or wood colored) panels, but Alvias and the likes are just so sterile looking. And exactly the same can be said about the exterior colors. Yeah, white is good because Spain hot and so on, but it's incredibly dull. And if you don't keep it clean (which they don't) it turns into a horrible looking dirty brown in no time.
Years ago I got into a little difficulty using a self-service ticket machine at Barcelona - this was before the days of the internet - I could not understand the ticket types as the words were not showing in my phrase book! This is because everything was in Catalan language, whereas I had a Spanish phrase book. Referencing a Catalan-Spanish phrase book in a bookshop solved this problem. I did notice on the video many of the signs etc were in 3 languages, Catalan, Spanish and English, I was looking out to see if the Basque language was on display in Bilbao, guess will have to wait for the departure from Bilbao video to see! In 1992 I took the overnight motorail service Santander - Malaga, I can't recall noticing such then. (Again before the internet age!)
It's interesting you make a point about flying Vs train it's still more viable flying over train travel. Even in the UK I live in the south east of England and in march I'm going to Glasgow if I was to book a direct train to Glasgow with my 26-30 railcard it is coming out at £98 return and would take the best part of 6 hours but I've managed to find a split cheap rail fair but that is from kings cross to Newcastle on Lumo and then a 40 minutes lay over at Newcastle and then LNER to Edinburgh and then Scot rail. To Glasgow central That works out at £16 in total but when I return I can get a flight between Glasgow and London Gatwick for £30 including luggage and seat selection that will only take about an hour as when I return I can't get a cheap split ticket as their are engineering works on the railway on that date I like rail travel BUT the rail operators are still out pricing themselves against domestic flight
I wonder if Spain and for that matter Ireland (although they're self-contained) will ever fully move to standard guage, and why they went for and stuck with broad guage long after, say, the GWR abandoned it. Irish guage still allowed for either ex BR or standard build Mk2 bodies to sit seamlessly on wider bogies.
Rather an interesting trip across northern Spain. I have to agree with you about the interior decor appearing somewhat bland and clinical, especially the colour of the moquette on the seats in your carriage (the blue ones in other carriages lifted the spirit a bit). The lack of adequate seat padding for a 6 hour journey is somewhat disappointing. The gauge change at modest speed is certainly interesting (pity that technology wasn't around in the last century - we could have done with that down here in Australia). The really uplifting thing about this trip was that magnificent stained glass window at Bilbao station. Wow! The diversion via Pamplona may have been due to trackwork on the regular route. The scenery was definitely worth it though. Hope you are keeping safe through this latest COVID scourge of Omicron. I had to endure my first ever PCR test and isolate for a few days last week as a result of someone bringing COVID to a venue I was at just before Christmas. Fortunately tested negative. Phew! Looking forward to your next offering. Cheers from downunder.
This has no relevance to the video but do you get time to play train sim 2 on pc/console? It has a few routes that I believe you have covered. Would they be as accurate as real life.
Look for: Talgo Group - variable rail gauge Talgo RD 2008. This will explain the rail gauge change. Its not a young invention. The concept has been around for quite a while.
Well I think that flying is about "transport", rail is about "travelling". Obviously what missing presently is the catering; but with a dining/buffet car, I'll take the train anytime !
Have you reintroduced "only Friday" depending on Covid again? If so, I am completely ok with that. BTW; this is a film about the gauge change: Talgo Moscow-Berlin - TH-cam
Happy New Year :) From what you've explained, in terms of frequency of service, journey times, and costs, I think this one's definitely a flyer, rather than a rail experience. You definitely don't want to spend 6 hours in an uncomfortable seat when you can do the same journey via plane in one hour.
One hour flight time. plus how long check-in, and hanging around in a glorified shopping centre; plus airports are rarely in city centres. I suggest a true comparison of journey times would be 6 hours against 3.5 - 4 hours.
@@malbecmikegrey996 I totally forgot about the extra complications of flying, such as check in - but if flying is still cheaper, or the same price, as the train, then 4 hours is still better than 6 hours.
Routes that were built 170 years ago, signaling systems that are 30 years old (or more), and lack of capacity, plus previous governments spending on roads rather than the rail system unlike the rest of Europe. HS2 is being built about 40 years too late.
If I was in no rush I would definitely take the train, just for the experience alone. If I was in a hurry I would take the plane.... Sometimes taking your time ⌚ is the right thing to do...
The automatic guage change is pretty simple. The axle on the train has two positions the wheels can rest in and a lock that keeps them in that position. When changing guage the train goes over an installation that first unlocks the wheel location, then the rail diverges to the wider guage or converges to a narrow guage. The wheel is free to move along the axle with the rail. Once in position the system locks the wheel in position. Done.
Thank you for that! Now I know x
I thought something like that, love flanged wheels.
th-cam.com/video/qwNl-g_91GE/w-d-xo.html
Thanks making me think about how this is done!
wow its 2020 and we are doing it the same way Leeds trams changed gauge to run into bradford before 1918.
What a technical arrangements 👌🏼❤️👍🏽
I would always prefer a 6 hour rail journey over a flight and this route looks worth it. The gauge changing shed nver gets old - its like magic!
I was impressed that they discounted the fare because of suspended food service. That's the first time I can remember any line doing this even though so many of the pandemic era services suspended food offerings. It seemed a pleasant, if slow journey, but hard, uncomfortable seats would be a big minus.
Very true 👍 A very good point !! 👍 Airlines don't give us discounts, either for stopping any services ! Lol. A very logical & ethical company !!Happy New Year !🚈💕💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🎈🍾🥂💞
The first time I travelled on RENFE was from Málaga to Madrid about 20 years ago. At that time the high speed track had not been connected to Málaga so, as a result, when we reached Córdoba we went through a long shed where I gather that every bogey was changed so that the train could run from there to Madrid on the AVE lines.
Last month I took the AVE from Málaga to Madrid in under 3 hours!
The train you travel on was a Talgo 200, in the shed what they did was changing the gauge of the Talgo and fitting a UIC locomotive to it. You can see the operation on this video th-cam.com/video/dJ_EA1OyHX4/w-d-xo.html.
Malaga - Barcelona, only takes 6+ hours with about 6 stops!
Most of the iberian gauge tracks were buit in 18th century standards, tunnels and viaducts were constructed only if they were essential. Most tracks take a detour following valleys or rivers instead of crossing them with tunnels and viaducts. In this zone from Zaragoza to Pamplona is still flat, so speeds of 140-160 km/h are possible. Between Pamplona and Vitoria or Miranda de Ebro - Orduña port - Bilbao are more montanious and the average speed is 90-100 km/h. New high speed lines are being built, but are in initial work stages.
Another example. Recently the high speed line Madrid - Galicia has been completed and opened as far as Ourense. From Barcelona to Galicia the direct route is 11 hours (High speed line until Zaragoza, then gauge change and iberian classic lines for the rest of the journey). If you go via Madrid entirely on high speed lines, journey time cuts to 5-6 hours (depending on how many stations are called in the journey)
Before the AVE Madrid - Barcelona took 10+ hours! Technology didn´t exist in the 1800´s that why the train tracks went on big detours. Before 2000´s no one used the Spanish rail networks for long journeys. The bigger Spanish gauge is all down to better traction for the steam engines!
If I was on vacation and had the time it would be by train. It is the best way to see the countryside.
You were right on the fact that most people will prefer planes on this route right now. With the opening of the Basque Y and hopefully the Castejón to Pamplona high speed line, journey times on this route will be shortened by a lot! Vitoria-Gasteiz to Bilbao now takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes, with Basque Y it will take about 30 minutes. A faster track from Castejón to Pamplona will easily cut 25 minutes off, and a possible high speed rail line from Pamplona to Basque Y can do the same, eventually shortening this trip from 6 hours and 40 minutes to 4 hours and 30. In theory, with less stops and a high speed line from Zaragoza towards to ones I just mentioned, less than 4 hours is also possible. This might sound optimistic, but the Basque Y is in fact almost finished and the other lines are in serious consideration. When built, they can also become a fast connection from Madrid to the French border. If an LGV from Bordeaux southwards to the same border will be constructed, Paris to Madrid can be done a lot faster than now via Barcelona .Let's hope they will be built!
The gauge changing mecanism is pretty simple, the wheels and their axis are decouplable from eachother, the train rolls on the wheels axis while the wheels are changed of position on a special piece of track. Once in place at the new gauge, the wheels are recoupled on their axis and the train continues its journey. It is a purely mecanic maneuver, the only thing to do is advance at slow speed and the process is done by itself. The whole process is actually pretty genius when you think about it.
Sorry didn't understand that. What is a wheel 'axis'?
Thanks for the info!
I've heard Renfe's Alvia sets are being refurbished in the next coming years, hopefully to boost its image given Spanish railways are going through MASSIVE competition from other European operators.
That'll be good 👍 As they looked really needed to ! As Dylan pointed out reg.the padding of the seats ! I also noticed of the floor ! And the sink of the bathroom / toilet. It'll help their business. Happy New Year 🐯 ✨ 🎈💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈💞
Massive? Just two competitors (Ouigo and Iryo), and only in high speed services (AVE). Renfe has no competition at all in any service that involves using the Iberian gauge network. The only company that could maybe do it is ALSA (a massive bus operator), but they only operate touristic trains right now.
Talgo has several videos on gauge changing stuff as its one of their big selling points of their trains. But anyways what happens is there is, each axle has different slots for each gauge that the wheels are locked into, and on the side in the gauge change facility is a different kind of rail. Not a traditional rail but a little watercoated metal rail. These trains have a little platform that rests on this as it passes through. When it does, it leaves the physical track and the wheels are left suspended and unlocked. While it is so and the train moves through, different guide rails push the wheel to the new gauge it needs to be fitted to where it locks into place and begins resting on the new tracks as the water coated track on the side ends.
But for a bonus question: Why does the Spanish network have a bigger gauge? The reason why the AVE was first proposed & built in the 1980´s!
The landscape looks pretty nice, the train interior a bit boring. But still a very good video. Thank you!
Yeah it is sad that Barcelona (Zaragoza)and Bilbao are not yet connected by a high speed or descent train connection .
Great report thank you. I would take the train every time. The gauge changing feature is fascinating.
12:02 - @Dylan's Travel Reports th-cam.com/video/qwNl-g_91GE/w-d-xo.html
Here's a infomercial by railway rollingstock manufacturer Talgo. It shows the process of axle gauge changing. A few of the rollingstock RENFE uses can gauge change, particularly S-130, S730, Alvia S-120, any of the Talgo low-floor rollingstock. I think some locomotives can change gauge too, depends on if they have a special bogie built by Talgo. S-100, S-103 can not gauge change.
Thank you for a great review ! I do like the Alvia S120 trains, and find their interiors bright and refreshing, especially so in comparison to a GWR IET ! The lack of passengers is distinctly worrying though.
12:20 Gauge change! That is what those "sheds" are for! I passed through them tons of times going between Madrid and Ourense (where I lived until October) and I never knew what they were. Thank you.
Lovely scenery and informative
Done a few trips on the AVE Malaga Madrid beautiful countryside and the Duck train was fantastic
Another great vid. RENEFE has went right ahead with introducing new high speed trains and influenced train travel in Spain. It’s a few years since I was in Bcn Sants and I have say the pickpocket capital of the world with Santa being infamous for that very reason so if your travelling through the station make sure you have wallets/purses firmly secured
Turkish high speed operator TCDD is using this CAF trains for high speed lines too. But they don't have gauge change function. Also they are slowly replacing them with Siemens Valero sets.
A bit different from when I was in Spain. Steam locomotives and wooden slatted seats. The carriages had open balconies at the end, with curly wrought iron decorations. The main Barcelona station had an overall glazed roof.
Telling your age lol
Yep single line as well from port boy to gerona an a nice leasurely 20mph lol
1961 shock after the overnight sleeper to Toulouse lol
Sounds like Estació de França lol
@@stevenmontoya9950 Probably. The trains ran to Cerbere, came back from Porte Bou.
Happy New Year Dylan. Speaking of Renfe S120 S121 it's made by Alstom and CAF. I can probably see the American version of this train being made in Upstate New York Elmira CAF propulsion unit Alstom Hornell/ Plattsburgh the old Bombardier Transportation plant
Happy New Year 🐯 ✨ 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈💞
Happy new year
what a brilliant journey the interia and loco is my favourate bit
Happy New Year 🥳
Happy New Year to you too!
This train set is used in Turkey named TCDD HT65000 and operated between Istanbul-Ankara/Konya.
Renfe Alvia S120 Gauge changing high speed train looks stunning and I would like to ride on it! Good video!
That's quite the stained glass at the end!
I see these trains all the time I’m on my way to school
As usal Dylan, very intersting. Especiall as you mention the changing of gauge. I am not a sepcialist on this. I only know that many, many yeras ago when theere was a change, the people had to change trains. An uncle of mine told me that there was a time when they lifted the wagons slightly, I never knew if the people remained on the train or not. Now it seems much easier. thank to some wonderful mechanism. Thank you very much and a very happy new year to you. Willam Grant.
Excellent video like always. I’m both an avgeek and a train lover so personally I’d travel by both train and air in different occasions.
Well Dylan, this was another tale of 2 cities. You start off in a nice airport, quite modern. The train looks top of the line too. I've never seen a train station that scams your bags. It must be a nuisance, but it is a nice safety feature. Once onboard things go downhill. I thought the seats seemed quite narrow. Maybe it was the camera or just me. I would be concerned with that window blind. It would be my luck to have someone in front of me pull it down. Part of my train interest is getting to see the scenery. Those seats didn't look comfortable enough or roomy enough. The scenery was lovely, but I'd be with you & for the time & price I'd fly also. Six hours versus one, it's a no brainer. Looking forward to your next trip on Monday.
Happy New Year. I still really like your videos and knowledge you have explained during your trip. Spain is amazing country with amazing trains.
In october I have travelled extensively on hours-long trips on these units. I found them adequate. The green/white-ish interior looks simple and even sterile. But my opinion in this case was it was calm on the eye. You are handed ear-buds for the 'in-flight' entertainment in Elige Confort (Preferente).
Happy New Year 🐯 ✨ Dylan & everyone watching this !! I am watching this now ! 👍🎉🍾🥂🚈💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🎈💞
Some people are afraid to fly. We have one in my family. One of my friends is also afraid to fly. Actually, I think hers has moved on to phobia. 😊😊
Oh...lol. lol I indeed know one !! He is scared of flights !! Lol. I guess it's not a joke for those scared of flying ! I get it !! But, they should know that we've got way more car accidents & chances to get involved in automobile 🚘 accidents than air crashes ! I love flying !!! But, I get real nervous during the take offs & especially the landings !!! As you know those are the most accident prone times ,very difficult to land smoothly ,especially against cross winds !! I've been in many scary experiences during my flights actually !!! Lol. I am not gonna mention those here as I don't want you to read 'em & tell that family member of yours !! Lol. I've flown around 80 + flights & there were some 6 to 7 seriously alerting situations !!! Lol. Happy New Year ! 🐯 🎈🍾🥂💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈💞
@@spark_6710 Maybe they’re not afraid of accidents. I’m “afraid” of flying because I’m claustrophobic and once in, there’s a bunch of people in a small space (much more than in a train), you can’t open windows and can’t leave if it becomes too much (like you could on a train or a bus). So in my eyes I’m effectively trapped, which triggers my fears and is the only reason I don’t fly. I couldn’t care less about accidents and I actually find turbulence fun
@@prettylittleravenna I see !! Lol. Poor you ! My mom is claustrophobic, but she loves flying !!! We both love planes & flying ! But, she can't sit in the middle isle !! As she'll panick like you said ! Thank you so much for your reply ! And Happy New Year ! 🐯🥂💜🚈🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
@@spark_6710 Happy New Year to you too. Actually I’m glad about my condition because it made me explore train travel, and it allowed me to see such beautiful diversity of sights during travel, which I wouldn’t in the plane.
@@prettylittleravenna That's true ! Lol. You can enjoy much more views on trains !!! Lol. I agree 👍 I love train travels the most ,then traveling by airplanes !! I love driving ,but traveling by automobiles is my least favourite !! Lol. Thank you so much for your replies !! I am hoping this crazy travel restrictions will be over very soon !! So that we can travel more easily again !! 👍🚈✈💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞
Happy New Year Dylan. Keep up the good work!
Great Video. Would often catch that service as I travel between Barcelona and Lleida. You should go to the latter in May. They have a few festivals, one - the snail festival - is held in a large glass building near the railway station.
Feliz ☺ ano novo Dylans lindo trem gostei boa viagem ai
HAPPY NEW YEAR 🐯 year of the TIGER 2022 🐅🐅🐅🎈🍾🥂💜🥁🐉🎤🎶🚈💞
Hello, Dylan, HNY and thanks for all your work. Just an extra bit of info on travel to Bilbao and the Basque country. From Paris take the TGV or other train route to Hendaye on the border and from there change to the narrow-gauge Euskotren via San Sebastian and other interesting places. But with the revival of overnight sleepers wouldn't it be great to see a revival of the direct Sud Express from Paris to Madrid - although it used to have manual - and noisy gauge changing in the middle of the night at Hendaye / Irun. Sadly I think it's too far from Austria for the Nightjet!!!
Thanks Dylan! Safe travels in 2022!
I would definitely take the train over a flight, just for the scenery alone
I love the trains in Spain, and especially Catalonia. I have spent many an hour at Port Bou near the border with France watching the world passing by...great video too.....Happy New Year, and here's looking forward to your next year of travel vlogs...
Micheal Portillo, in one of his railway journeys, covers the Spanish gauge changer and a visit to the CAF factory and drives, guess what?, a 195!! When I first visited Barcelona nearly 20 years ago I was very impressed that mainline trains travel under the city - now pretty common place these days thinking about cross rail.
Beautiful country along the way; that would be my primary reason for taking the train instead of flying. While you were in Bilbao were you able to see the Guggenheim/Bilbao museum? Enjoy your travel reports, ¡hasta lunes mí amigo!
I wasn't able to but I did get to have a good look around 😁
Great landscape at the national park!
Great video as always Dylan.Can you possibly do the Northern 333 Aire valley Line Skipton to Leeds or Bradford Forster Sq
Hopefully at some point 😁
@@DylansTravelReports All trains till Wednesday go to Kirkstall Forge then rail replacement bus to Leeds until Wednesday and thanks for replying it means a lot
Great trip. The Rolling Stock on this video remind me about CRH-1, Higher Speed Train from China, and also Turkey.
Happy New Year Dylan:
Happy New Year
Thanks Dylan. Interesting points made and certainly a tough decision. I haave to say Aeroplane for me based on this video.
Cheers, Bob
The diversion was well worth the beautiful scenery.
Excellent video Dylan as always....and a very Happy New Year to you and all your readers !
Hi Dylan from Jaen Province. Feliz Año Nuevo. The train journey means you pass through some lovely scenery which you miss if you're flying.
Happy New Year, Dylan and to everybody here🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂🍾🥂 - Dylan, at 9:30 or so I couldn't quite understand what you referred to as hideous...I think it had to do with the seat(s).
The moquette, the fabric covering the seats.
I didn't like the looks of those seats immediately. Scanty comes to mind. Sad? You know, there was a time when I wondered if Dylan narrating would be good or bad. Now it's a natural part of life! ☺️☺️
I agree about Dylan's narration. I liked the early, silent ones because they were so different from the usual channel. But I now like the narration better. You don't miss any scenery and he can fill you in on so much more.
Great trip report
Happy New Year Dylan. Thanks for the video
Happy New year buddy from Alan shelley
Nice report :D What is your job so you can travel so much? Pequetren make nice Renfe train models as collector toys..
Happy new year dylan
Great video. I'd still take the train. Great scenery. Shame about the hard seats.
Would still take the train 🚆 too. I like trains and have a hearty dislike of airports.
@@kippen64 You can usually add 3h to any flight, maybe less if the airports are close to the centre of the city and easily accessible, more if not. So a 1h flight takes 4h, compared to a 6h train journey, on which you don't have to up sticks and mice from transfer to waiting area to airport bus to plane and thr same in reverse.
@@andreawoelke Strongly agree.
I respectfully disagree with regards to the seat moquette. I like the turquoise-esque color as it reminds me of the sea, and I think it goes well with the white interior.
Curiously there are some CAF trains here in New Zealand as well, but they only run in the city of Auckland. I've been on the so-called 'AM' units enough times to confidently say that they've got a pretty smooth ride quality.
Superb. Along journey without catering facilities if you're not prepared.
Great video !!
Thanks
The hotel above Barcelona Sants is brilliant
Happy New Year Dylan!
I liked the train station !! It looked as nice as a hotel lobby !! Very nice !! 👍👍
Thanks!
days ago
I wish you'd do the Northern Service Sheffield - Doncaster service operated by a class 170. Day 2 of asking. also great video!
I mean 158 or 150 lol
Man that station looks boring! Loved the video Dylan, keep it up.
Thanks 😁
Wait how u posting a comment 2 weeks ago when the vid came out today
@@harveyjames9600 magic of Patreon early access to videos, mate
The reason for the bigger gauge is all down to the age of steam engines & better traction! Zaragoza & Lleida, there is a high speed line than avoids both cities. So it´s possible to do Madrid - Barcelona, at a virtual none stop speed of around 300 km/h. Also it is a different overhead line current, I´m not sure the overheads on the none AVE lines give the train enough power to get up to 250km/h even if the train was permitted.
Nice trip ... nice price. Thanks one more time.
Love all your videos Dylan. Over 6 hours without catering in an uncomfortable seat though...I did snigger at the 'bin' which looks like an old cigarette butt bin
As a spaniard I have to say that I hate the interior aesthetics in most of Renfe's medium and long distance trains. Everything is white, it looks like a damn hospital. AVEs at least have some wood (or wood colored) panels, but Alvias and the likes are just so sterile looking.
And exactly the same can be said about the exterior colors. Yeah, white is good because Spain hot and so on, but it's incredibly dull. And if you don't keep it clean (which they don't) it turns into a horrible looking dirty brown in no time.
Years ago I got into a little difficulty using a self-service ticket machine at Barcelona - this was before the days of the internet - I could not understand the ticket types as the words were not showing in my phrase book! This is because everything was in Catalan language, whereas I had a Spanish phrase book. Referencing a Catalan-Spanish phrase book in a bookshop solved this problem. I did notice on the video many of the signs etc were in 3 languages, Catalan, Spanish and English, I was looking out to see if the Basque language was on display in Bilbao, guess will have to wait for the departure from Bilbao video to see! In 1992 I took the overnight motorail service Santander - Malaga, I can't recall noticing such then. (Again before the internet age!)
Tbh, the ticket machines are still pretty bad. Even if you hit English, it's all still in Spanish and Catalan
It's interesting you make a point about flying Vs train it's still more viable flying over train travel. Even in the UK I live in the south east of England and in march I'm going to Glasgow if I was to book a direct train to Glasgow with my 26-30 railcard it is coming out at £98 return and would take the best part of 6 hours but I've managed to find a split cheap rail fair but that is from kings cross to Newcastle on Lumo and then a 40 minutes lay over at Newcastle and then LNER to Edinburgh and then Scot rail. To Glasgow central That works out at £16 in total but when I return I can get a flight between Glasgow and London Gatwick for £30 including luggage and seat selection that will only take about an hour as when I return I can't get a cheap split ticket as their are engineering works on the railway on that date
I like rail travel BUT the rail operators are still out pricing themselves against domestic flight
nice video happy new year
Happy New Year
I wonder if Spain and for that matter Ireland (although they're self-contained) will ever fully move to standard guage, and why they went for and stuck with broad guage long after, say, the GWR abandoned it.
Irish guage still allowed for either ex BR or standard build Mk2 bodies to sit seamlessly on wider bogies.
Rather an interesting trip across northern Spain. I have to agree with you about the interior decor appearing somewhat bland and clinical, especially the colour of the moquette on the seats in your carriage (the blue ones in other carriages lifted the spirit a bit). The lack of adequate seat padding for a 6 hour journey is somewhat disappointing. The gauge change at modest speed is certainly interesting (pity that technology wasn't around in the last century - we could have done with that down here in Australia).
The really uplifting thing about this trip was that magnificent stained glass window at Bilbao station. Wow!
The diversion via Pamplona may have been due to trackwork on the regular route. The scenery was definitely worth it though.
Hope you are keeping safe through this latest COVID scourge of Omicron. I had to endure my first ever PCR test and isolate for a few days last week as a result of someone bringing COVID to a venue I was at just before Christmas. Fortunately tested negative. Phew! Looking forward to your next offering. Cheers from downunder.
Thanks Michael, hope you're doijg well 😁
Awesome 👍👍👍 bro
This has no relevance to the video but do you get time to play train sim 2 on pc/console? It has a few routes that I believe you have covered. Would they be as accurate as real life.
Yes I do and one of my local routes is on there (albeit from the 1980s) and they seem pretty accurate imo.
I loved this video apart from the window blind demonstration - my teeth are still clenched!
Look for: Talgo Group - variable rail gauge Talgo RD 2008.
This will explain the rail gauge change. Its not a young invention. The concept has been around for quite a while.
Well I think that flying is about "transport", rail is about "travelling". Obviously what missing presently is the catering; but with a dining/buffet car, I'll take the train anytime !
Nice video . Thanks
Sounded like an old UK whistle just before journey's end.
I would take the train as I find flying boring and train travel interesting and I love trains.
Where is the subtitles on the 4 weeks of the current videos?
5:01 Stopppp! Arrrgh! Wow, that curtain's awful. 😵😵
Have you reintroduced "only Friday" depending on Covid again? If so, I am completely ok with that. BTW; this is a film about the gauge change: Talgo Moscow-Berlin - TH-cam
No, not at all
@@DylansTravelReports I have tried to find the film for today but haven´t found it.
It's just this Monday that there was no video.
That's a long trip without refreshments. I would think that a packaged snack and a drink could have been offered.
A security check in a railway station is a no-go for me. If that’s going to happen, I’d rather fly. Or take the car or bus.
Happy New Year :)
From what you've explained, in terms of frequency of service, journey times, and costs, I think this one's definitely a flyer, rather than a rail experience. You definitely don't want to spend 6 hours in an uncomfortable seat when you can do the same journey via plane in one hour.
One hour flight time. plus how long check-in, and hanging around in a glorified shopping centre; plus airports are rarely in city centres. I suggest a true comparison of journey times would be 6 hours against 3.5 - 4 hours.
@@malbecmikegrey996 I totally forgot about the extra complications of flying, such as check in - but if flying is still cheaper, or the same price, as the train, then 4 hours is still better than 6 hours.
How much did it cost for you to get that private coach?
Interesting train
here's a run down of how the gauge changers work en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_gauge enjoy!
Thanks!
Ingenious, isn’t it. Thanks for the link.
Happy new year, Dylan. As ever, an interesting video. For me, always, take the train. We have to get serious about global warming.
Why doesn't the UK have trains as fast?
Routes that were built 170 years ago, signaling systems that are 30 years old (or more), and lack of capacity, plus previous governments spending on roads rather than the rail system unlike the rest of Europe. HS2 is being built about 40 years too late.
We have a real problem with nimbyism.
for study. 08:50 toilet 11:21 change gauge
When will there be a direct overnight train from Lisbon to Madrid on Renfe?
I'm not sure as they've cancelled it for the time being
@@DylansTravelReports Thanks for the update.
Is there really no power socket at the seat?
There is, at least at the twin seats.
Dylan Canfrancero?
If I was in no rush I would definitely take the train, just for the experience alone. If I was in a hurry I would take the plane.... Sometimes taking your time ⌚ is the right thing to do...
I couldn't agree more!