PTG Tours · Enthusiast charter train tour

The Catalonian Alco

The Catalonian Alco, a rail journey with PTG Tours

An annual special charter train around Catalonia in Eastern Spain, in private 1960s carriages with opening windows hauled by class 316 and 321 Alco diesel locomotives.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Valencia

    Fly or travel to Valencia

    Direct flights available from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Manchester, or make your own way to Valencia; overland travel by rail from London St Pancras via Hendaye and Madrid is also available. Overnight near Valencia Estació del Nord.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Tarragona

    Valencia to Tarragona (charter train day 1)

    Board the private charter train, formed of four 1960s compartment carriages with opening windows (owned by ALSA) hauled by two 1960s ALCo diesel locomotives. South from Valencia to Gandía and the short Platja de Gandía branch, then onto the freight line to the Valencia-Tarragona main line, up the coast to L'Aldea Tortosa Amposta (reversal) for the Tortosa branch, then direct to Tarragona via Vila-Seca.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Barcelona

    Tarragona to Barcelona (charter train day 2)

    Coastal line via Sant Vicenç de Calders, Castellbisbal and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat to Barcelona Sants, then north to the French border at Portbou via the inland route through Granollers-Centre and Maçanet-Massanes, reversing at the border and returning via the coastal route through Mataró to terminate at Barcelona Estació de França.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Barcelona

    Barcelona area routes (charter train day 3)

    Routes to/from Lleida via Manresa, reversing at Lleida and heading south to rejoin the main line at Sant Vicenç de Calders, the coastal route via Garraf almost to Barcelona Sants, a freight-only curve at the Castellbisbal 'spaghetti junction' towards Rubí, then back to Barcelona Estació de França via Cerdanyola Universitat and a freight curve to Cerdanyola del Vallès. Alternative: a relaxing day exploring Barcelona instead.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Zaragoza

    Barcelona Morrot Freight Branch to Zaragoza (charter train day 4)

    The Barcelona Morrot Freight Branch, a tour highlight, reached via Bifurcació Glòries-Clot, La Sagrera and Cerdanyola Universitat, then the second freight-only curve at the Castellbisbal spaghetti junction. Back through Castellbisbal, Martorell and Sant Vicenç de Calders, then via Tarragona, Reus and Lleida Pirineus towards Zaragoza Delicias.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Valencia

    Zaragoza Plaza freight complex to Valencia (charter train day 5)

    The Zaragoza Avoiding Line to the Zaragoza Plaza freight complex, taking in both curves on/off the branch and time to be shunted around by the current shunt locomotives (a Renfe Class 310 and an ALSA Class 333), before running back to Valencia via Mora la Nova, Reus and Tarragona for a fast run down the coast.

  7. Day 7

    Fly home

    After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights back to Heathrow or Stansted (or, the next day, Gatwick or Manchester).

Included

  • Breakfast included with accommodation, except for the last night at the airport hotel

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