Author | Lightnews

Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 12h

Here too there is an unadvertised through service Regio + Urbano from Coimbra-B to Porto via Pampilhosa and Aveiro, so it's not as bad as communicated! So there we have it, Vilar Formoso - Porto with one change in five hours, albeit in backside-numbing class 2240 seats. #CrossBorderRail

Screenshot from DB Navigator for Pampilhosa to Porto journey, suggesting need to change trains en route

Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 12h

The Pampilhosa avoider aka 3.2 km long concordância de Mealhada is open to traffic, but as yet sees no passenger trains. So I change in Pampilhosa to continue to Porto. #CrossBorderRail

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 12h

I could not identify any obvious infrastructure improvements/upgrades on the Beira Alta line to justify the 3 year closure. AFAIK no additional passing loops for more capacity and punctuality. A long ca. 20 km/h speed restriction in Soito/Espinho area delays trains by about 10 mins.

Refurbished platforms at Canas-Felgueira station on the Linha da Beira Alta. Our train waits for a delayed service from Coimbra-B

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 12h

Class 2240s are entirely unsuitable for long journeys, but I would be on this one for > 3 hours. Apart from lack of luggage space, it's impossible to sit comfortably in these seats. The 15:55 from Vilar Formoso to Guarda is actually an unadvertised through service to Coimbra-B. #CrossBorderRail

Spartan interior of class 2240 EMU with low-backed 3+2 seating at Vilar Formoso station.

Class 2240 EMU with wheelchair ramp at Vilar Formoso station

Class 2240 EMU at Vilar Formoso station ready to work the 15:55 service to Guarda (and beyond to Coimbra-B)

Screenshot from DB Navigator for Vilar Formoso - Coimbra-B suggesting need to change trains in Guarda.

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 12h

Note the generous (= costly) infrastructure, which at present only sees two daily passenger train pairs and a smattering of freight. Can we hope there might be more trains in the near future? Passenger trains are entirely in the hands of these class 2240 units #CrossBorderRail

Extremely long and high pedestrian foodbridge over the tracks at Vilar Formoso railway station

Sign at Vilar Formoso railway station documenting national and EU investment in the Beira Alta railway line

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 12h

The ticket office is not finished yet (don't worry, tickets are sold on the train), but there are several businesses in the handsome station building in Vilar Formoso, including a bar for drinks and snacks, including snails, should you fancy them. #CrossBorderRail

Ornate tiling on Vilar Formoso railway station

Ornate Linha da Beira Alta tiling on Vilar Formoso railway station

View of platforms and station building at Vilar Formoso railway station

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 12h

The border town of Vilar Formoso is rather small, with restaurants, hotels and the railway station all within a few minutes walk of the coach stop. You have more than 2 hours to change from coach to train here. The prettiest building in town is of course the railway station. #CrossBorderRail

Vilar Formoso railway station building exterior view

Vilar Formoso railway station seen from road bridge close to border

The Spain - Portugal rail border crossing at Vilar Formoso

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Reposted by Simon Maarfield

The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 23h

‘It’s fantastic’: How changes to Enterprise service have transformed Dublin-Belfast rail travel

Passenger numbers on the Enterprise service are up by 40% in a year

www.irishtimes.com

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 19h

Just looked again. As far as I can see, it's just the tunnel directly south of Salamanca La-Alamedilla that is still without knitting. Can anyone confirm?

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 19h

I would also like to see an IC Vilar Formoso - Guarda - Porto via the new Pampilhosa avoiding curve, which CP has promised to serve but so far hasn't. Don't forget CP is short of rolling stock and surely won't prioritise international routes over domestic ones.

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 19h

Is it? Last thing I read in the Portuguese press was the idea put forward by CP to join up the Lisboa - Entroncamento - Abrantes - Guarda and Guarda - Pampilhosa - Coimbra-B - Entroncamento - Lisboa IC services.

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 19h

Wires are up Salamanca - Vilar Formoso. As I did not see any freight from the coach or in the two hours I spent in Vilar Formoso, I cannot speculate as to whether they are in use by electric traction. More pictures and trip report continuation to follow...

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 19h

Yes, Trutnov in the Czech Republic with a GWTR #CrossBorderRail service to Lubawka and Sędzisław in Poland it most certainly is.

Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 20h

The Portuguese certainly have wish lists but little or no means of realising them without Spanish cooperation

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

No, sadly none that I know of.

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

After just 58 mins we are passing Cuidad Rodrigo and rapidly approaching Portugal. Hooray you might think. But no, just 5 mins short of the border we pull off the autovia for lunch at La Pedresina. We finally arrive just a few metres inside the Portuguese border 5 mins early at 13:45

Portugal - Spain border post in Vilar Formoso

Welcome to Portugal sign with long-distance bus stop and Flixbus

Two Flixbus vehicles at La Pedresina services in Spain, just 5 mins from Portuguese border.

La Pedresina services in Spain, just 5 mins from Portuguese border

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

The Flixbus at 12:40 from Salamanca to Vilar Formoso is scheduled 2h10m for the 116 km. No sockets but it's comfortable enough if the passenger in front doesn't recline their seat. We run largely parallel to the freight-only #CrossBorderRail line.

Salamanca - Vilar Formoso railway line seen from Flixbus coach

Just minutes after leaving Salamanca bus station, the Flixbus is cruising at 100 km/h on the autovia en route to Portugal

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

After initial panic of not finding my Flixbus to Vilar Formoso, up it popped on the departure board. Careful trip planning is crucial: there may be departures to Vilar Formoso within 10 mins of each other or none at all depending on the day of the week! A 10m/47h50m-Takt 😵‍💫 #CrossBorderRail

Flixbus already up to max speed of 100 km/h on the Autovia just after leaving Salamanca

Almost parallel departures of Flixbus and Alsa/Rede Expressos services from Salamanca to Vilar Formoso (and Porto)

Flixbus route 745 Madrid - Porto arriving in Salamanca bus station

Salamanca bus station departure board. Note almost parallel departures at 12:30 and 12:40 to Porto via Vilar Formoso

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

It's then a 3-4 km walk to the poorly located Salamanca bus station on the other side of town. But it's a pleasant walk through the main sights. #CrossBorderRail

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

Now some typical RENFE nonsense: you can travel *to* Salamanca La-Alamedilla, but all trains return empty. Anyone know why? Signalling? Or lack of facilities for Seguridad? Or something else? It's the best-located station for the city centre, reducing the distance to walk to the bus station

No passenger trains *from* Salamanca La-Alamedilla

View from Salamanca La-Alamedilla looking west towards Portugal

Salamanca La-Alamedilla is a basic halt at which you can alight for the city centre. But there are no passenger trains back to Salamanca main station!

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

MD train at 09:09 the next morning from Ávila to Salamanca La-Alamedilla, sadly now the end of the line for passenger trains on the #CrossBorderRail freight-only line to Vilar Formoso

Narros de Castillo: a typical rural station and scenery on the Ávila - Salamanca classic line

The station bar in Ávila appears to be permanently closed

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

1. Via Salamanca. From Madrid you can choose between the fast line or the scenic Iberian-gauge line via Ávila. I chose the latter, leaving Madrid Príncipe Pío at 19:37, arriving in Ávila at 21:10 for an overnight stay #CrossBorderRail

Madrid Príncipe Pío station with MD train to Salamanca

Madrid Príncipe Pío multi-modal interchange station and shopping centre

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 21h

So how can you travel between Spain and Portugal (mostly) by rail? There are several similarly unattractive options. I have tried two of them! #CrossBorderRail

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Reposted by Simon Maarfield

The Man in Seat 61 @seatsixtyone.bsky.social · 1d

Still needs Swiss parliamentary budget approval : but a new all-year 3 times a week sleeper could link Basel with Copenhagen and Malmo. ftnnews.com/travel-news/...

Sleep to Scandinavia: New Swiss night train to Copenhagen and Malmö - Focus on Travel News

SBB’s tri-weekly EuroNight from Basel to Copenhagen and Malmö launches 15 April 2026, with tickets on sale 4 Nov 2025 and CHF 47m support to 2030.

ftnnews.com

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Simon Maarfield @simonmaarfield.bsky.social · 1d

Picture taken here:
mapy.com/s/cesazerobu
Possible kink in the rails or is it just a blurry photo?

Mapy.com

mapy.com

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