Apologies for the audio, I put this video together on the road, was hit by a virus and completed it whilst hauled up in a very echoing hotel room in Spain. I only learned of the history after filming the route, and it it’s significance. But despite short comings I hope you enjoy it AND please subscribe ... it helps get new videos out.
indeed the station has been beautifully restored, for a few €million of course, but no sign of the line being restored. When I was there it seems work is complete but the construction fencing is still in place
Thanks for the wonderful video , I have driven the Oloron Sainte Marie to Zaragoza route at least a dozen times in both directions since 2010 and stopped photographed and explored several sections and tunnels on the the disused line . I only became aware of the spiral tunnel in 2019 I notice in your commentary you don’t recommend exploring it , can I ask why
yes, discovering the spiral tunnel [and as I say I discovered the network on Boxing Day ] was exciting and even though I do have floodlights I chickened out doing the entire length .. and from a filming POV it is not spectacular spending half an hour in a tunnel. But it was a real surprise.. I expect France and Spain to build railways not close them, so had to squeeze in a special episode. Glad you enjoyed the episode
oh but I was fascinated as to how the electrical cables were strung out to fit in the tunnel and offer contact for the train. Sadly I'm still very much in the literal dark on that feat of engineering
Sadly, the French governnents have not been interested in enhancing intermodal connexions with Spain making Toulouse - Zaragoza social and economical development difficult
you surprise me, the cost of restoration seems small and the benefits great even as a tourist route. There are a couple of technical hurdles with restoring bridges but it seems a low cost project with a big return.
@@julesdingle Hi thanks for the comment! I have worked in logístics for a long time now (road, sea, rail and some air freight); if you look at the Pyrenees and Spanish - French border, there are only two real connexions between Spain and France (Europe) Irun in the Basque Country and La Junquera in Catalonia. This has significant social, economic and political repercussions, as any company setting up shop in the Iberian Peninsula will have chosen these two locations for warehousing and manufacturing (not anymore as there are good roads in Spain and these áreas have become very expensive), and there is a strip of land from that tunnel all the way down to Madrid that is fastly underdeveloped (til now) due to the wall that are the Pyrenees. Why the French have not wanted to develop a connexion between Toulouse and Zaragoza, when they have so between Lyon and Milan (they are building a second tunnel, already having one), well who knows. Obviously there are more possibilities for economic development and investment where there is a lot of land and It is cheaper ( including the French side). But from a Spanish point of view, internal polítics among different regions would be a lot easier with a good logistic connexion under the Pyrenees.
Interesting, I understand a reason to open the line is to get freight off the N134/330 given the road is not entirely suitable for HGVs and as you say freight requires modern logistics & that needs some planning I'm surprised that given the infrastructure is good that a passenger route is not worth it given the potential for tourism
picked up a virus- not covid- actual saw the person who gave it to me, they coughed in a supermarket and I noticed them. 3 days later a painful cough that hurt my ribs.. then 3 days in a carpark in bed. as soon as I was able to drive I rested a few days in a hotel.
Apologies for the audio, I put this video together on the road, was hit by a virus and completed it whilst hauled up in a very echoing hotel room in Spain. I only learned of the history after filming the route, and it it’s significance. But despite short comings I hope you enjoy it AND please subscribe ... it helps get new videos out.
Well done, Mr. Dingle. Can't beat this combination: trains, geopolitics, mountains and geology...
Amazing. I needed a gentle drive through beautiful scenery from the comfort of my bed this morning 😁
Wow, what scenery and great drone work too.
Great work voice ? There's nothing wrong with it. I was fascinated by this spectacular rail line massive history to it as well 👏
What a treasure! thanks for the international content🙂
Hi, thanks for the 4K pictures. Really enjoy the video. Cheers.
Great video ! Thanks
Bonjour usted mercie beaucoup pour ce reportage vraiment magnifique felicitations bravo
we are planning a trip to North Spain.. congrats on the channel. Keep up the good work.
I have been down this way many times and if you are not in any hurry to go to Spain this is a very scenic route
monumental! une gare magnifique.
indeed the station has been beautifully restored, for a few €million of course, but no sign of the line being restored.
When I was there it seems work is complete but the construction fencing is still in place
Thanks for the wonderful video , I have driven the Oloron Sainte Marie to Zaragoza route at least a dozen times in both directions since 2010 and stopped photographed and explored several sections and tunnels on the the disused line .
I only became aware of the spiral tunnel in 2019 I notice in your commentary you don’t recommend exploring it , can I ask why
yes, discovering the spiral tunnel [and as I say I discovered the network on Boxing Day ] was exciting and even though I do have floodlights I chickened out doing the entire length .. and from a filming POV it is not spectacular spending half an hour in a tunnel.
But it was a real surprise.. I expect France and Spain to build railways not close them, so had to squeeze in a special episode.
Glad you enjoyed the episode
oh but I was fascinated as to how the electrical cables were strung out to fit in the tunnel and offer contact for the train. Sadly I'm still very much in the literal dark on that feat of engineering
dommage que je peut pas avoir la traduction en français de la personne qui raconte. 😢
excuses, mais mon français est horrible😬
essaye la traduction automatique
Paramètres CC !?!
And the title/composer of our lovely piano interlude?
Daniel Veesey :Beethoven Sonata No1 in F Minor Op2 No1 II Adagio 1. available on Pixabay
Sadly, the French governnents have not been interested in enhancing intermodal connexions with Spain making Toulouse - Zaragoza social and economical development difficult
you surprise me, the cost of restoration seems small and the benefits great even as a tourist route. There are a couple of technical hurdles with restoring bridges but it seems a low cost project with a big return.
@@julesdingle Hi thanks for the comment! I have worked in logístics for a long time now (road, sea, rail and some air freight); if you look at the Pyrenees and Spanish - French border, there are only two real connexions between Spain and France (Europe) Irun in the Basque Country and La Junquera in Catalonia. This has significant social, economic and political repercussions, as any company setting up shop in the Iberian Peninsula will have chosen these two locations for warehousing and manufacturing (not anymore as there are good roads in Spain and these áreas have become very expensive), and there is a strip of land from that tunnel all the way down to Madrid that is fastly underdeveloped (til now) due to the wall that are the Pyrenees. Why the French have not wanted to develop a connexion between Toulouse and Zaragoza, when they have so between Lyon and Milan (they are building a second tunnel, already having one), well who knows. Obviously there are more possibilities for economic development and investment where there is a lot of land and It is cheaper ( including the French side). But from a Spanish point of view, internal polítics among different regions would be a lot easier with a good logistic connexion under the Pyrenees.
Interesting, I understand a reason to open the line is to get freight off the N134/330 given the road is not entirely suitable for HGVs and as you say freight requires modern logistics & that needs some planning
I'm surprised that given the infrastructure is good that a passenger route is not worth it given the potential for tourism
Tu no has cogido ningun virus!.
picked up a virus- not covid- actual saw the person who gave it to me, they coughed in a supermarket and I noticed them. 3 days later a painful cough that hurt my ribs.. then 3 days in a carpark in bed. as soon as I was able to drive I rested a few days in a hotel.