PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Catalonia by Special Train (Rail and Culture Tour)

Catalonia by Special Train (Rail and Culture Tour), a rail journey with PTG Tours

A one-off private charter railtour around the Catalonia coast in Eastern Spain, in 1960s carriages with opening windows hauled by vintage ALCo diesel locomotives.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Valencia (2 nights)

    UK - Valencia

    Various flights or overland options to Valencia. Overland travel by rail from London St Pancras also available, with an overnight stay in Hendaye on the France/Spain border.

  2. Day 2overnight: Valencia

    Valencia

    Guided half-day tour of Valencia's Old Town, Central Market and Plaza de la Virgen, followed by a paella and tapas feast at an 11th-century landmark.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Tarragona

    Valencia - Tortosa - Tarragona by special train

    Board the private charter train (4 compartment carriages from the 1960s, hauled by two ALCo diesel locomotives). Route south to Gandia and the Platja de Gandia branch, then north via a freight line onto the Valencia-Tarragona line to Tortosa (with reversal at L'Aldea Tortosa Amposta). Time to explore Tortosa before an evening service train to Tarragona.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Barcelona (2 nights)

    Tarragona - Barcelona by special train

    Rejoin the special train on the coastal line via Sant Vicenc de Calders, Castellbisbal and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat to Barcelona Sants (optional stop for free time), then north to the French border at Portbou via Granollers-Centre and Macanet-Massanes, reversing before returning via the coastal route through Mataro to Barcelona Estacio de Franca.

  5. Day 5overnight: Barcelona

    Barcelona - Montserrat

    Visit Montserrat Monastery, home of the 'Black Madonna', followed by a guided visit to the vineyards of Oller del Mas, including a tasting of three wines, a tapas lunch and skip-the-line entry to the Basilica of Montserrat.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Zaragoza

    Barcelona - Zaragoza by special train

    Culture option: relaxed morning in Barcelona before rejoining the train at Barcelona Morrot. Rail option: covers the Barcelona Morrot Freight Branch via Bif. Glories-Clot, La Sagrera, Montcada and Cerdanyola Universitat, then the freight-only curve at Castellbisbal. Both groups continue via Martorell, Sant Vicenc de Calders, Tarragona, Reus and Lleida Pirineus towards Zaragoza Delicias.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Valencia

    Zaragoza - Valencia by special train

    Special train covers curve 284 onto the Zaragoza Avoiding Line, the Zaragoza Plaza branch curves and shunting yard, before running back to Valencia via Mora la Nova, Reus and Tarragona.

  8. Day 8

    Valencia - UK

    Morning transfer to the airport for Heathrow flight, or (for Stansted/extra night for Gatwick) a visit to the Caves of San Jose with an underground river boat cruise, before an afternoon transfer to Valencia airport.

Included

  • Accommodation includes breakfast except for the last night at the airport hotel

Not included

  • Return flights (priced separately, from £200)

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