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Today we are taking a ride on the one of a kind Euskotrain narrow gauge railway in northern spain’s basque country. The line is a strange mix of Metro / Regional rail service operating mostly in tunnels in Bilbao and San Sebastian as a metro style service while operating more as a regional rail intercity style train between the cities. Come along for a ride in great scenery while i point out the major issues with the service.
Train type: Euskotren 900 series (CAF)
Route: Bilbao to San Sebastian
Train: Line E1 (16:55 from Bilbao-Matiko)
Distance: 110 km
Journey time: 2h44m
Average speed: 41
Price: 6.50 euro
14 Comments
Very nice trip. Would be nice to make some trip in Ukraine – proposition for you=)
Super video
Super video
As always, superb video and honest reviews ❤
Great Video, As usual.
The system you've used is the local version of regional train and , unfortunately, the metric gauge and the system as a whole, is limited by type of trains and speeds. This train is aimed more to serve the small locations you've passed along the way than a trip from Bilbao to Donostia – San Sebastián as it is long and slow, due to the restriction of the system. The direct bus is much faster (about 1h20) and costs almost the same (the train's regular fare is 6.50€, if you search for trains the price is shown but the PDF is horrible.
The use of regional/suburban train also as a local metro is not unique to Spain but the character of the metric rail system makes it look more like a metro.
The future for this ride is the new high speed rail, under construction. The line, known as Y as it connects Bilbao, Donostia – San Sebastián and Vitoria-Gasteiz in a Y shape with connections for all directions so once finished (probably in 2027) the direct connection will be made by high speed trains. The line will also reach the French boarder but France refuses to build it's part, as obligated by the EU, which now pressuring them to build it by 2030, as required by EU decisions as it's part of the Atlantic Corridor.
Great video, Simon! 🙂
I totally agree regarding the seats – I was glad to take a walk around San Sebastian after being sat on that glorified barbecue patio chair for 2¾hrs…
As someone has already mentioned, Renfe will be along with a fast link in the next few years.
The line you see in San Sebastian tunnels is actually the real Metro line, called Topo, which is under construction, and probablu will be finished in a couple of years or 5 years.
That tunnel you mentioned will go under the city making a girth, avoiding the terminal station, Amara, continuing te trip to Irun and the french station of Hendaye. Now it is time to continue the way to Hendaye. By the way, Spain has the biggest narrow gauge network of Europe, about 1600 km. Specialy in the North. This is why you found trains similar to metros. But there are also freight trains in those lines. https://youtu.be/foCTm_pHM5w
Our presenter needs to tone down his snobbery and technocrat attitude. First, stop with the churlish comments like you made about French rail and some bloody "identity crisis" about the northern Spain narrow-gauge network.
This narrow-gauge network travels through wonderful scenic routes. But, did you mention this? No, just a throughaway comment or two, because you had to focus on complaining about the seats and a bogus "identity crisis".
Frankly, other travel channels did a much better job in reviewing this rail network, because those channels focused on the journey.
Excellent video, thanks. Just the intro I needed.
I guess this line is narrow gauge because of hilly terrain.
Can anyone tell me whether bicycles can be taken on these trains? I suspect not, as the trains are small inside.
I live in France and like the French trains. What is the part the French are oblihed to build but do not want to do?
Bordeaux-Hendaye is already fast-ish and easy by train.
That line is not intended to be used from Bilbao to SS. It's Just 2 interconnected metro lines from both metropolitan areas so people in the neighboring towns can move quick and easily. There are actually proper train lines to go from Bilbao to SS. Anyway, great video and thanks for the compliments about the scenery!
This train is not fit for a 3-hour journey.
No local would ever take this train from Bilbao to Donostia. Busses and soon high speed trains are meant for that. The seats are great for what this train service is: a smart combination of metro and local train bringing you into the heart of Bilbao. It is not an "identity crisis", it is a superb urban and regional travel system developed from what was originally an interlocal train system which used to have its terminus station in Bilbao inconveniently far from the centre. Check it out next time you are in town: it is now a tram depot and the tram line runs through it. Beware of more "identity crisis" lol
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