FEVE Ferrol to Santander

[Bedspring]

I am going to fly back from Santander.
I would like to take the FEVE along the coast from A Coruna or Ferol to Santander.
Previously when I have asked RENFE staff about FEVE I have drawn a blank.
I suspect I will need to go to an actual FEVE station to get information.
However I wondered if anyone on here has any information

 

[Corned Beef]

FEVE is considered as an urban (Cercanias) version of rail lines and the trains are broadly similar in they are slow moving with fewer passengers (I was one of two on one section).

You can find the timetables / route maps here.

https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-am/mapas

There was another question earlier today about the same issue. You may find an Alsa bus quicker than the slow FEVE.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/bike-wrapping-for-train-from-santiago-to-ferrol.87574

 

[SabsP]

Ferrol to Santander via Oviedo.
When I took this option years ago ( Santander to Ferrol ) I was only able to buy at the ticket booth ( did this day before taking the train ).

Renfe Feve - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Renfe Feve is now known as Renfe Cercanias AM.

Cercanias AM | Renfe

Cercanias AM: Toda la información sobre horarios, tarifas, estaciones (mapas, líneas), viajar con mascotas, bicicletas.

www.renfe.com

 

[Bradypus]

The Spanish Wikipedia article for RENFE Cercanias AM is quite helpful.

Renfe Cercanías AM - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre

es.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I did the Oviedo - Ferrol trip once. It was very long, slow, and wonderful.

 

[witsendwv]

I did the Oviedo - Ferrol trip once. It was very long, slow, and wonderful.

We went from Ferrol to Santander with a stop to see the Playa de los Catedrales (spent the night). Long, slow and wonderful is the perfect description!

 

[emmanuel]

We went from Ferrol to Santander with a stop to see the Playa de los Catedrales (spent the night). Long, slow and wonderful is the perfect description!

"Long, slow and wonderful"... sounds like a perfect recipe for many things that come to mind.

 

[SabsP]

"Long, slow and wonderful"... sounds like a perfect recipe for many things that come to mind.

It is! In my memory I believe the train made seventy stops?

 

[witsendwv]

It is! In my memory I believe the train made seventy stops?

You counted?

 

[OTH86]

You counted?

...what else is there to do on the FEVE? ...except sit back and relax or switch from side to side to figure which side has the best views ?!

 

[Flog]

Much of the rickety narrow gauge FEVE network closely follows the Norte, it's a really lovely way to see Northern Spain as long as you're in no hurry and aren't expecting to do it in a seamless journey.. lots of connections, all part of the adventure!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Like they said up above - a complete delight. It also has a slightly amateur charm - the driver and train manager stopping off for a cigarette break, the young lady who got on in the mountains and got off at the coast along with her surf board . . . .
Think you'd have to get an ordinary train or bus from Coruna to Ferrol as the FEVE starts at Ferrol.
This time last year I spent a week on it and the total cost Ferrol to Bilbao was about 50€.
Ribadesella. is a good place (among many) to spend a day or two - great ice cream parlour.
Here's the route map - you'll see them on most stations (some of which are just bus shelters)
Buen viaje!

 

[cnxjo]

Video of FEVE train from Ferrol.

Can buy tickets using FEVE app. Very useful if you plan to make stops enroute

 

[Anne&Pat]

We have walked beside part of this route on the Norte and on the Ingles and have always thought that it would be wonderful to take the train journey

 

[wynrich]

This is what we wrote on our blog about the FEVE and the long trip we took on it after walking part of the Norte and then the Ruta de Cantrabico in 2019:

There’s a wonderful little train called the Feve that was never too far away from our walking route this year. It’s mostly used by commuters and stops in every town, large or tiny, that it goes through. It’s rare to see anyone get on the train with luggage.

On Monday morning, we boarded the Feve in Espasante. It is over a six hour ride on the Feve from there to Gijón. We went through about 85 stations. We probably stopped at 70% of those. (They don’t stop if no one is waiting or needs to get off.) We were expecting a long tiring train ride where we’d keep ourselves amused the way we do on airplanes: reading, listening to books or music, doing puzzles.

Turned out it seemed pretty fast and we got a kick out of going backwards through all the little towns we had walked through. We talked about what we remembered about each place. A few times we were able to spot the place where we had stayed or where something else memorable happened.

 

[SabsP]

Some pics from 2014.
The basic cafeteria of the Feve station in Santander.
The gorgeous tiles at the trainstation in Oviedo.

 

[Bedspring]

Thank you for all your replies. This sounds a good finale to my Camino.

 

[NorthernLight]

I rode the Feve from Luarca to Ferrol last year and it was really enjoyable. I bought my ticket onboard as there was nobody in the station at Luarca (and it was all locked up). At Ferrol there should be no issue buying the ticket before boarding as it is a large enough station.

Most of the time there weren’t more than half a dozen people on my train. Bring food/snacks and drinks as there is no service onboard.

 

[Guateclaret]

I rode the Feve from Luarca to Ferrol last year and it was really enjoyable. I bought my ticket onboard as there was nobody in the station at Luarca (and it was all locked up). At Ferrol there should be no issue buying the ticket before boarding as it is a large enough station.

Most of the time there weren’t more than half a dozen people on my train. Bring food/snacks and drinks as there is no service onboard.

Over 60s get a 40% discount with a Tarjeta Dourado which costs 6 € for a year. What's the rush?

 

[Bernice M]

I went Ferrol-Oviedo-Santander-Bilbao-Leon on the Feve, with stops of course. The Bilbao-Leon leg was superb. Cheap with tarjeta dorada. In Ferrol there is a dispenser machine, but other centres have a separate counter.

 

[tjz]

I went Ferrol-Oviedo-Santander-Bilbao-Leon on the Feve, with stops of course. The Bilbao-Leon leg was superb. Cheap with tarjeta dorada. In Ferrol there is a dispenser machine, but other centres have a separate counter.

I am thinking this might be a great way for us to make our slow way back to Madrid next year when we complete our Norte / Finisterre / Muxia camino. How did you break up these legs into days? Thanks!

 

[witsendwv]

From Ferrol our first stop was Reinante to go the the Playa de las Catedrales, but you have to time your stay for low tide in order to see the wonders of the beach!!

​

 

[Bedspring]

I am thinking this might be a great way for us to make our slow way back to Madrid next year when we complete our Norte / Finisterre / Muxia camino. How did you break up these legs into days? Thanks!

My recommendation would be to read Tom Chesshyres book, 2000 miles by train round spain or something like that

 

[wynrich]

I went Ferrol-Oviedo-Santander-Bilbao-Leon on the Feve, with stops of course. The Bilbao-Leon leg was superb. Cheap with tarjeta dorada. In Ferrol there is a dispenser machine, but other centres have a separate counter.

It's quite inexpensive even without the Tarjeta Dorada. We've always been able to buy tickets on the train.

 

[Tortilla]

From Ferrol our first stop was Reinante to go the the Playa de las Catedrales, but you have to time your stay for low tide in order to see the wonders of the beach!!

To get from Ribadeo to the Cathedrales Beach you can also get off in Esteiro (this is where I took the photo below). It's just 7 minutes ride from Ribadeo on this funny little Feve train. Although it can be difficult to coordinate the train schedule with low tide which you are looking for. But there are also local buses from Ribadeo. Or you can walk.

 

[witsendwv]

To get from Ribadeo to the Cathedrales Beach you can also get off in Esteiro (this is where I took the photo below). It's just 7 minutes ride from Ribadeo on this funny little Feve train. Although it can be difficult to coordinate the train schedule with low tide which you are looking for. But there are also local buses from Ribadeo. Or you can walk.

We stayed overnight in Reinante near the beach (local hotel and restaurant) in order to be there during low tide!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

My recommendation would be to read Tom Chesshyres book, 2000 miles by train round spain or something like that

Slow Trains Around Spain. It's quite good and you can dip in and out depending on which region you're interested in. Here's his route:

 

[witsendwv]

Slow Trains Around Spain. It's quite good and you can dip in and out depending on which region you're interested in. Here's his route:

View attachment 173657

Thank you for the map. This will help as we are planning a trip in early Jan. from Valencia around the southeast to Malaga.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Thank you for the map. This will help as we are planning a trip in early Jan. from Valencia around the southeast to Malaga.

A good time of year to visit the deep south. I'm looking to do something similar at the end of September.

You might find these videos interesting:

 

[Bernice M]

I am thinking this might be a great way for us to make our slow way back to Madrid next year when we complete our Norte / Finisterre / Muxia camino. How did you break up these legs into days? Thanks!

I stayed Ferrol (two very interesting Navy/marine related museums, one with superb ship models.), Oviedo, Santander, Bilbao, Leon. The train to Leon leaves Bilbao early afternoon and arrives Leon quite late, but out of the town centre, with free bus that takes passengers closer in, although not quite to centre, but walkable. I think I arrived at lodgings about 2300.
Next time I'll stop at smaller places, providing I can organise myself.

 

[Wandershot]

I stayed Ferrol (two very interesting Navy/marine related museums, one with superb ship models.), Oviedo, Santander, Bilbao, Leon. The train to Leon leaves Bilbao early afternoon and arrives Leon quite late, but out of the town centre, with free bus that takes passengers closer in, although not quite to centre, but walkable. I think I arrived at lodgings about 2300.
Next time I'll stop at smaller places, providing I can organise myself.

Thanks for the detail. How long was the trip from Ferrol to Oviedo. Do the trains have bathrooms?

 

[SabsP]

Thanks for the detail. How long was the trip from Ferrol to Oviedo. Do the trains have bathrooms?

Duration 7.30 h.

There are bathrooms.

 

[TravellingMan22]

On FEVE as I type. Ferrol to Ribadeo and back tomorrow. Loving it. Yes there are bathrooms on board in response to an earlier question.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Like they said up above - a complete delight. It also has a slightly amateur charm - the driver and train manager stopping off for a cigarette break, the young lady who got on in the mountains and got off at the coast along with her surf board . . . .
Think you'd have to get an ordinary train or bus from Coruna to Ferrol as the FEVE starts at Ferrol.
This time last year I spent a week on it and the total cost Ferrol to Bilbao was about 50€.
Ribadesella. is a good place (among many) to spend a day or two - great ice cream parlour.
Here's the route map - you'll see them on most stations (some of which are just bus shelters)
Buen viaje!

Indeed! The onboard conductress is knitting as I write!

 

[Corned Beef]

Just a note that you may find the train terminates in the middle of nowhere. You are alone with only one other person on the platform and there is a choice of 3 platforms with no-one else about. You don't know which is platform for the next train and you might need to flag it down as some stops are request stops. What to do?

I asked my fellow passenger in my best Spanglish which platform, and he replies "It's this one" I ask if he is sure? Yes he said 'I'm the train driver'. Much relief.

 

[TravellingMan22]

Well we have just overshot a platform and had to reverse back much to the bemusement of the passengers waiting on the platform. The smaller stops are on request, you tell the conductor. Assume the people on platform press a button or something!

 

[TravellingMan22]

At the main stations there is a nice integrated map of the Camino Norte and the FEVE network!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Well we have just overshot a platform and had to reverse back much to the bemusement of the passengers waiting on the platform. The smaller stops are on request, you tell the conductor. Assume the people on platform press a button or something!

Spaniards give a languid wave, everybody else jumps up and down in a frenzy.