León to Barcelona

Last day of 2018 I'm spending by taking different trains between León and Barcelona

Plaza Mayor in the morning

Catedral de León

I have some time before my first train, so I will have a chance to see León during the daylight

Basílica de San Isidoro

Las Cabezadas monument

City hall

Catedral in the sunlight

Padre e Hijo

In the morning it is time for the delivery to local restaurants and pubs

Statue of Antoni Gaudi

Monument of Angel Barja

Parroquia de San Marcelo

"La Negrilla" statue

Lions in León

The old station in León

Not sure what's going on here

The new, temporary station on the other side

Security control before boarding the platforms

High speed line between Valladolid and León opened in 2015. There are 2 daily direct AVE services between Madrid and León taking 2h10min, to be compared with almost 5h when taking Media Distancia train.

Security control means X-ray for the luggage

The temporary station is a terminus. Here are the standard gauge tracks

This New Year's Ever the first train from León is at 10:44

Two Class 252 locomotives

Alvia Class 130 is arriving from Gijon

All seats (except the ones in the front) are facing the direction of the train

Iberian gauge railway and Standard gauge

This Alvia Class 130 can be used on both gauges, but it is using the Iberian gauge railway here

Complimentary drink

Sahagun

High speed line runs in parallel here

Villada station. My Alvia train do not stop here, but some other trains does - like R.Expres and Intercity

Grijota

At Palencia the two railways are connecting again, as well as the line from Santander

This Alvia train continues to Barcelona - but I'm taking another route

The left track is Iberian gauge, the right one is the standard gauge

Estación del Norte in Palencia

Palencia is about twice as small as León in terms of population

Calle Antonio Maura

Plaza Mayor

City hall

Diputación Provincial de Palencia

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Calle

Familiar Swedish town names here

Iglesia de San Miguel

Carrión river

Stork

I'm back at the station

Jardinillos de la Estación

R.Expres train from Santander to Valladolid

Class 470

The trip Palencia-Valladolid takes 45min with the Iberian gauge railway, and 25min with High speed railway, which I'm going to use shorly

AV City is a new concept from Renfe, which means that the trains are using same route as AVE high speed trains, but with a reduced train tickets and less comfort. This AV City service is between León and Madrid.

Class 121 is used for this AV City service

Only Turista class on this train

Iberian gauge line

The Venta de Baños Triangle, which will facilitate all direct traffic connections that are possible between Valladolid, Palencia, León and Burgos.

Venta de Baños

25 min later I'm in Valladolid

Madrid-Valladolid high speed line opened in 2007

Valladolid Campo Grande station opened in 1856

Class 114 Avant train

Classes 121 and 114

I'm changing trains here once again in order to ride with a Class 114 for the remaining trip to Madrid on this line.

Avant service between Valladolid and Madrid

Avant train has also just Turista class

Vending machine on board

Segovia

There is only 1 stop between Valladolid and Madrid in Segovia

Entering the 28,4km long Guadarrama Tunnel - the longest in Spain

Approaching Madrid

Cuatro Torres Business Area

Gauge changer facility

Madrid Chamartin station

Renfe Class 334

Renfe Class 446

I'm taking Cercanias train between Chamartin and Atocha stations in Madrid with a stop in the main square

Puerta del Sol

The main place in Spain to celebrate the New Year

Carlos III

Back to the Cercanias station

There is a connection between Chamartin and Atocha for long distance trains - at the moment only for Iberian gauge

These trains do not stop at the Cercanias stations

Another long distance train

My last train to Barcelona will be this AVE Class 103

Leaving Madrid

Some snacks and a drink included in 1st class ticket

Another one

Cheers!