Trains and other things: Castelló, Campo de Criptana

Since my first Interrail day starting in Roskilde, I've been using each day as I have purchased a continuous 22 days pass (it turned out that the price was almost same as for 15 days flexible pass). So, today I'm travelling in Spain from Barcelona to Madrid, visiting windmills of Criptana on my way.

Starting in Catalonia region, still fighting for its independence

I've purchased all my seat reservations in advance through Interrail reservation service, as it is the only option to do that in advance. It is also possible to buy the reservation at the ticket counter, but I would not recommend that as many trains in Spain can be fully booked. Seat reservations through Interrail reservation service are sent by email as pdf files. It is not possible to choose a specific seat, otherwise everything worked quite well.

First I'm taking a Media Distancia train to Barcelona from a nearby town where I was staying.

Renfe Class 449

Media Distancia train between Girona and Barcelona do not require a seat reservation.

At Barcelona Sants I'm taking Euromed train to Castello.

Renfe Class 130 as Euromed train

Preferente class

In Preferente, a breakfast is included in the morning train

On Renfe website it is possible to view services for each train and class

The breakfast that is served includes a hot dish

Near Sitges the railway is located near a walking path

Euromed train with destination Valencia

A modern station in Castello replaced an older one in 2000.

The old station house from 1864 is located with a walking distance from the new one

Parc Ribalta

A hybrid bus/trolleybus in Castello

30C

I have only 40 minutes between my previous and next trains, so I'm returning to the station

Flixbus in Castello

My next train is a Talgo service with Class 252 locomotive

As Talgo train do not have Preferente class, I've got a reservation in Turista plus coach

Valencia

Changing gauge facility in Albacete

I was supposed to change trains at Alcazar de San Juan having almost 15 minutes to do that. I must say that during this trip not a single train arrived on time, and this train was no exception. The conductor assured me that I would make it...

By the time Talgo train arrived to Alcazar de San Juan, I could see my next train leaving the station

I went outside the station and could spot a taxi station. The trip between Alcazar de San Juan took about 10 minutes, and costed me 13 EUR.

As a bonus, the taxi driver took me all the way to the top of the windmills area

The view of the windmills is incredible

Most people arrive here by car

Some of the windmills are converted to museum

Don Quixote

The way from windmills to the station

The station is located along the Iberian gauge railway Madrid-Alicante

682,5m above sea level

Altaria train from Cartagena to Madrid

Renfe Class 334 is a Vossloh Euro 3000 diesel locomotive

I have two options to get to Madrid from Criptana, the first is by using the Iberian gauge railway going back to Alcazar de San Juan or to go through Albacete and take a high speed train. So I'm taking the 2nd option.

First I'm taking Media Distancia train to Albacete. This MD train requires seat reservation.

The new station in Albacete opened in 2010 and it is a combined high speed and conventional train station.

I'm taking AVE train to Madrid

AVE 5183 from Alicante to Madrid with only one stop here in Albacete

Renfe Class 100 is the first high speed train type in Spain

I've got a seat in Preferente class but without a window. There was no food or drink included in Preferente class of this train. Hence the seat reservation cost was 13EUR instead of the usual 23.5EUR (1st class).

Sin Restauracion means no food or drink service in 1st class

Since I've got a seat without a window, I went to the bar coach where there were plenty of windows

The section of Madrid-Valencia and Madrid-Albacete high speed line opened in 2010, while the route to Alicante opened in 2013. As all high speed lines in Spain it is built with standard gauge (1435mm), and electric powered at 25 kV AC, with signalling ERTMS levels 1 and 2.