Train from Ferrol to Lisbon? Cycles?

[hecate105]

I can find a Renfe Gypsyy train that goes from Ferrol (3 changes ) to Porto - but without knowing what type of train it is - I don't know if I can take my bicycle! If it is a regional train - it is fine (if there's room) but if it is a fast train I can't... But there is no information on Renfe site or seemingly on google!!
Can anyone enlighten me? It goes Ferrol/La Coruna/Vigo/Porto - which sounds like a wonderful route for looking out the window - especially as we will already of been Santander/Oviedo/Ferrol - on the lovely Feve train!!
Isuppose at some point I will have to actually get on my bicycle.....

 

[Former member 22438]

From Ferrol you have to take the bus to a Coruña (I do not know if there is a FEVE connection between both places)but there is a regional Renfe service between a Coruña and Vigo
There you have to change to another station where the Comboios Portuguêses (CP) Portuguese railways have their endstation . From there you can take the regional train to Porto

 

[Corned Beef]

On the Ferrol/La Coruna/Vigo part you can take a bike (assembled) but to avoid getting earache from the guard you are best to book one of the spaces on the train.

Don't know about the section south of Vigo but looks like the train is a Comboios de Portugal (CP) one - TrenCelta. This is what the CP site says about bikes on International trains. So pre-booking on both stages.

Bike and scooter transport

See the information about the carriage of bikes. Further details.

www.cp.pt

The transport of bicycles/scooters is free of charge, provided that they are dismantled and packed so that they can be transported as hand luggage.

Free transport of bicycles/scooters is also allowed, without being dismantled and packed, one per passenger with a maximum of 2 per train. Transport is subject to prior reservation of the bicycle space, when purchasing the passenger's ticket.

 

[hecate105]

Thanks folks! I got onto Renfe and found that we would have to dismantle the bikes on part of the route - which is impossible when you have 5 panniers as well!
So we are adapting......
Now - (all to avoid flying and causing pollution!!) we ferry to Santander - FEVE train along the coast in 2 day hops - to Ferrol. Day in Ferrol to explore - especially the 'pilgrim' places (we cycled here many years ago on our return Camino - but didn't get time to look around!) Hire car one way to Badajoz (not allowed to take it to Portugal!! thru but not to!) Then cycle like mad-people - as we will have only 3.5 days to get to Lisbon to meet up with our cycle buddies - then start the trip around Portugal!! I have also engineered (luckily I am the only competent navigator!!) that we will return from S Algarve via the Camino route from Huelves back up to Badajoz - a bit of the VdeP - yay! then hope to do some of the Coastal Portuguese on the way back up to Santander...... But I'm not planning that too much - time might go faster than my legs.....

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Hire car one way to Badajoz (not allowed to take it to Portugal!! thru but not to!) Then cycle like mad-people - as we will have only 3.5 days to get to Lisbon to meet up with our cycle buddies - then start the trip around Portugal!!

Here's another option:

You could think about taking the little green train from Badajoz to Entroncamento, with lots of connections to Lisbon--it runs twice a day, and you'd have no problem having a bike on that--the train isn't that heavily used...we know it well because it runs past our place. Recently upgraded to 2 runs a day, from 1. The little green train is two self-propelled cars that just do the mostly south-of-the-Tejo run from Entroncamento through to Badajoz. It's still the only Lisboa-Madrid rail connection possible, since they shut down the night train between the capitals at the beginning of the Covid restrictions.

(For others, this is a neat little train trip; you can visit some of the towns in the mid-section of the Nascente as documented by @jungleboy. )

Update: it looks as if a third option is possible, transferring at Abrantes rather than Entroncamento, as has been the usual. If youtook the evening train, the transfer in Abrantes would likely be simpler; it's a smaller station than Entroncamento and you'd get your "into Lisboa" space sooner. As you can see from the schedule screenshot below, it takes an hour longer because you're staying on regional trains, but it might be worth it.

Note: re prices shown, don't forget, if you're over 65, it's half-price.

CP - Comboios de Portugal

At CP - Comboios de Portugal, you can check train times and discounts and buy tickets online. Further details.

www.cp.pt

p.s. OR, if you were going to "cycle the works" originally, you could take this train as far as Barquinha, just one stop short of Entroncamento, and then you could "reverse-cycle" the Barquinha >> Lisboa section of the central Portuguese caminho...

 

[Corned Beef]

I got onto Renfe and found that we would have to dismantle the bikes on part of the route

That's odd as I've travelled from SdC to Vigo and SdC to Ferrol without dismantling. Is the issue the CP train from Vigo as you'd best ask Comboios de Portugal about that one. The only issue I had was not booking first.

Edit: I used the Regional Express/Media Distancia on that route but checking Renfe again, it may be they've withdrawn the slower trains that allows bikes without dismantling.

If you do decide to get on the bike, it's only 2 days from Ferrol to SdC and a further 2 days SdC to Vigo. Vigo is a killer getting in and out of, as some parts are so steep.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

That's odd as I've travelled from SdC to Vigo and SdC to Ferrol without dismantling. Is the issue the CP train from Vigo as you'd best ask Comboios de Portugal about that one. The only issue I had was not booking first.

In our experience on the CP train Vigo > Porto Campanha this spring, I didn't see anyone with bikes, but I suspect no-one would have cared. The train was nowhere near full; it was a small, old train, and pretty much an odd orphan not relating much (as far as seat quality, availability of café, anything else) to either the CP or the Renfe system. Run by CP but not really much acknowledged by them.

I get the feeling from local Portuguese press that this train is a bit of a holding pattern till they get the new high-speed running from Porto up through Galicia.

That may be years, though...

 

[Former member 22438]

On the Ferrol/La Coruna/Vigo part you can take a bike (assembled) but to avoid getting earache from the guard you are best to book one of the spaces on the train.

Don't know about the section south of Vigo but looks like the train is a Comboios de Portugal (CP) one - TrenCelta. This is what the CP site says about bikes on International trains. So pre-booking on both stages.

Bike and scooter transport

See the information about the carriage of bikes. Further details.

www.cp.pt

You are right , Comboios de Portugal has the service on the track Vigo to Porto. Tge railway track is smaller than the Spanish one so there are two railwaystations in Vigo about 15 minutes walk from each other

 

[hecate105]

Here's another option:

You could think about taking the little green train from Badajoz to Entroncamento, with lots of connections to Lisbon--it runs twice a day, and you'd have no problem having a bike on that--the train isn't that heavily used...we know it well because it runs past our place. Recently upgraded to 2 runs a day, from 1. The little green train is two self-propelled cars that just do the mostly south-of-the-Tejo run from Entroncamento through to Badajoz. It's still the only Lisboa-Madrid rail connection possible, since they shut down the night train between the capitals at the beginning of the Covid restrictions.

(For others, this is a neat little train trip; you can visit some of the towns in the mid-section of the Nascente as documented by @jungleboy. )

Update: it looks as if a third option is possible, transferring at Abrantes rather than Entroncamento, as has been the usual. If youtook the evening train, the transfer in Abrantes would likely be simpler; it's a smaller station than Entroncamento and you'd get your "into Lisboa" space sooner. As you can see from the schedule screenshot below, it takes an hour longer because you're staying on regional trains, but it might be worth it.

Note: re prices shown, don't forget, if you're over 65, it's half-price.

View attachment 143331

CP - Comboios de Portugal

At CP - Comboios de Portugal, you can check train times and discounts and buy tickets online. Further details.

www.cp.pt

p.s. OR, if you were going to "cycle the works" originally, you could take this train as far as Barquinha, just one stop short of Entroncamento, and then you could "reverse-cycle" the Barquinha >> Lisboa section of the central Portuguese caminho...

OH! Bless you Friend!! This looks much more manageable - I will look up the detail and see if we can book tickets. It would then be less than half as far to cycle (90 miles) - which is more than enough for me in 3 days!! Hopefully we could get on the evening train on the 4th april.....
Thank you so much!
And thanks to all who pitched in info and advice.
If you are walking/cycling in Devon - come and camp at ours - or at least pop in for a cuppa!!

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

OH! Bless you Friend!! This looks much more manageable - I will look up the detail and see if we can book tickets. It would then be less than half as far to cycle (90 miles) - which is more than enough for me in 3 days!! Hopefully we could get on the evening train on the 4th april.....
Thank you so much!
And thanks to all who pitched in info and advice.
If you are walking/cycling in Devon - come and camp at ours - or at least pop in for a cuppa!!

So glad this seems to work...don't forget about the time difference--Spain is an hour later than Portugal. This gets a bit confusing as you cross from Badajoz to Elvas, which I think is the first Portuguese stop on the line.

 

[hecate105]

I'm confused enough as it is - the clocks went forward last night here in uk - some do it automatically - others not - travelling thru Spain then Portugal - I shall not have a clue!! And then there's the language changes too - it doesn't help that we will be travelling from Lisbon with 2 Americans, a Thai and a German - joined by an American who lives in France later....!! Frazzled!!

 

[hecate105]

Anyone who was interested in this journey….
We did the small train but forest fires cut it short. Ended up hiring a car from Oviedo to Badajoz, then the lovely little train into Portugal. As we got off we saw yellow arrows!! So followedcthen backwards down the estuary to Lisbon - which was a peaceful start to our multinational trip….
Great start cycling down coast from Lisbon, but an awful fall meant losing the Americans - the rest of us pedalled on down the coast and along the Algarve. It was so good we repeated some of it( the Algarve by bicycle is boardwalks and flamingos and not at all frantic)
Then we trained from Faro to Porto and followed the Coastal camino to top of Portugal and thence to Ourense ( anything for a hot spring!) then did a mighty cycle over the mountains and a long, long decent to Spanish coast!! A bit more Camino and back to ferry!! Excellent cycling!

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Anyone who was interested in this journey….
Excellent cycling!

Wow! What an adventure! So glad it all worked out.

 

[Skinnybiker]

Good trip, did you write a journal anywhere? I need to look at these train options, there seem to be several "odd" trains in Portugal. Richard

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Good trip, did you write a journal anywhere? I need to look at these train options, there seem to be several "odd" trains in Portugal. Richard

To whet your appetite, here's the country-wide route map...

https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Passageiros/3_viajar/0_servicos/mapa-servicos.pdf

There are really only a few odd ones: the two which are international, going to Vigo in Galicia and Badajoz in west-central Spain, and a couple of narrow-gauge curiosities going through areas that are typically served by buses, instead, these days.

The "little green train" from Entroncamento to Badajoz was put in place because the night train from Lisboa to Madrid was discontinued during the pandemic and never re-started--from what I can read, mostly because of other priorities on the Spanish side (but that could just be the prejudice of the Portuguese press!?)

The Porto-Vigo run is scheduled to be discontinued once the new high-speed system is in place--sometime this decade. Construction is happening now.

The train up the Douro River, currently dead-ending at Pocinho, is also sometimes discussed as being continued further up-river into Spain. The tracks exist, but I've read they are in very bad shape, and there's little population up that way. And I think perhaps this may be another case where the Portuguese and Spanish rail gauges are different, meaning changing trains. I think that's also the case in Badajoz--which is why currently you have to change trains there to go on to Madrid.

I love the Portuguese trains!

 

[hecate105]

only on paper!!
In the end because of forest fires - we could not do the little northern train to Ferrol - so went to Oviedo (always a pleasure) which has a car hire that will do one way hire - and that had to be to Badajoz.... So we made it a 'holiday' and camped in the mountains. At Badajoz - thanks to Friend from Barquinha - we got the little train to Vila Nova de Barquinha (oops - just realised is that where you live? We could of descended for a cuppa!!) when we got off we were delighted to see Camino markers (I cried) and happily followed them backwards to Lisbon - staying in some albergues on the way - and meeting some lovely pilgrims!!
When we cycled down the coast of Portugal - we met a few odd pilgrims - some on the Fisherman's Trail (we cycled a bit of that - inadvertently!) then when we left the train in Porto weeks later - we met oodles of pilgrims on the Coastal route - we had not planned it - it was only cos our American mate fell off his bike broke his shoulder..... We also crossed the main Frances route as we went north thru Spain - just at a little cafe selling the most enormous pieces of tortilla - nr a main road - there were hundreds of pilgrims there - great to chat!!
Then lastly in Santander we met a few too - so for a non camino journey plan - we were led over a lot of Camino!!
Have you a plan Richard?

 

[Skinnybiker]

only on paper!!
In the end because of forest fires - we could not do the little northern train to Ferrol - so went to Oviedo (always a pleasure) which has a car hire that will do one way hire - and that had to be to Badajoz.... So we made it a 'holiday' and camped in the mountains. At Badajoz - thanks to Friend from Barquinha - we got the little train to Vila Nova de Barquinha (oops - just realised is that where you live? We could of descended for a cuppa!!) when we got off we were delighted to see Camino markers (I cried) and happily followed them backwards to Lisbon - staying in some albergues on the way - and meeting some lovely pilgrims!!
When we cycled down the coast of Portugal - we met a few odd pilgrims - some on the Fisherman's Trail (we cycled a bit of that - inadvertently!) then when we left the train in Porto weeks later - we met oodles of pilgrims on the Coastal route - we had not planned it - it was only cos our American mate fell off his bike broke his shoulder..... We also crossed the main Frances route as we went north thru Spain - just at a little cafe selling the most enormous pieces of tortilla - nr a main road - there were hundreds of pilgrims there - great to chat!!
Then lastly in Santander we met a few too - so for a non camino journey plan - we were led over a lot of Camino!!
Have you a plan Richard?

Perhaps this thread has given me something to ponder - a bike / train trip through Portugal & Spain. Maybe I could join up a few Caminos & Via Verdes; there is still the Madrid to finish and I'd like to ride the camino from Barcelona through Navarra. Something to while away the winter evenings - thanks for the inspiration and you to @Friend from Barquinha Richard

PS I see you're from Devon, we used to live in Ermington (east of Plymouth) but the wet winters pushed us to warmer climes in S Spain.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

Perhaps this thread has given me something to ponder - a bike / train trip through Portugal & Spain. Maybe I could join up a few Caminos & Via Verdes; there is still the Madrid to finish and I'd like to ride the camino from Barcelona through Navarra.

The nice thing about bikes and Portugal/trains is that they have no restrictions about travelling with bikes on the trains. In fact the newer ones that they are currently adding often have an area set aside specifically for bikes! They seem really committed to combined-mode non-vehicular travel, which is nice to see.

The one issue right now is that they've just brought in very inexpensive monthly passes for residents, and there's some concern that there just may not be enough seats on the trains for all who want to travel. The next year should be very interesting, from a rail point of view.

But in any case, it seems like Iberia should be excellent to explore by train/bike. Bom caminho!