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along the northern spanish coast

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Hi!

We want to go along the northern spanish coast. A few questions: 

1.) For the feve railways: Which part is the most scienic? As the trains are really slow, we would only go where it is much more nice than the normal renfe railway…

2.) I have seen, there are some Renfe trains in the rail planner app called TRN where are reservation is said to be needed. When I click on the details, there is only a 6€ fee for second class. We have Interrail first class. So is there no fee for us or is there no first class? Could it be, a only second class train where a reservation is needed?

3.) Anyone of you went on the Spanish northern coast from Hendaye to northern Portugal? Which combination of trains seems to be especially good? I remember that some renfe trains offered free food for first class passengers and that there was also a scientic mountain route which is now replaced by a high speed tunnel…

Best answer by ralderton

Mention which routes are showing second class only. You’re probably correct, in that they don’t offer first class, but we can check. You still need a reservation - you just have to slum it in second class!

As far as I’m aware, the ‘free food in first class’ is actually an optional add-on. You can pay €13 on the AVE for First Class, or €23.50 for First Class with food. It’s well worth it, as long as you are travelling at a time where they serve a proper meal. Less so if you only get ‘snack’.

Seat61 has the logical route via Hendaye and Vigo. I don’t think either of these trains will offer first class meals. Certainly it wasn’t offered ob my Alvia train from Zaragoza to Donosti-San Sebastián, but it was on my AVE from Barcelona-Zaragoza.

 https://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm#london-to-lisbon-by-train-via-vigo

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    ralderton
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    • ralderton
    • Railmaster
    • November 4, 2024

    Mention which routes are showing second class only. You’re probably correct, in that they don’t offer first class, but we can check. You still need a reservation - you just have to slum it in second class!

    As far as I’m aware, the ‘free food in first class’ is actually an optional add-on. You can pay €13 on the AVE for First Class, or €23.50 for First Class with food. It’s well worth it, as long as you are travelling at a time where they serve a proper meal. Less so if you only get ‘snack’.

    Seat61 has the logical route via Hendaye and Vigo. I don’t think either of these trains will offer first class meals. Certainly it wasn’t offered ob my Alvia train from Zaragoza to Donosti-San Sebastián, but it was on my AVE from Barcelona-Zaragoza.

     https://www.seat61.com/Portugal.htm#london-to-lisbon-by-train-via-vigo

    T
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    • tomas3000
    • Keeps calm and carries on
    • November 4, 2024

    Thank you!

    For example the 13:18 Irun to 19:00 Palencia (5:42h-train!) shows me only a 6 € reservation in second class…

    Any idea how I could find out, at which times they offer proper meal?

    I think my meal back than was on an Alvia from Madrid to the northern coast running the old mountain line (before the opening of the high speed tunnel).

    Thank you also for the seat61-advice. This is good for reaching Portugal as fast and easy as possible. But we aim to arrive there as scienic as possible ;-)

    ralderton
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    • ralderton
    • Railmaster
    • November 4, 2024

     

    This is what I was offered on the AVE between Barcelona and Zaragoza. On another occasion, it was just a sandwich!

    . 

     

    T
    Keeps calm and carries on
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    • tomas3000
    • Keeps calm and carries on
    • November 4, 2024

    Thank you also for the seat61-advice. This is good for reaching Portugal as fast and easy as possible. But we aim to arrive there as scienic as possible ;-)

    ralderton
    Railmaster
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    • ralderton
    • Railmaster
    • November 4, 2024
    tomas3000 wrote:

    Thank you!

    1. g. the 13:18 Irun to 19:00 Palencia (5:42h-train!) shows me only a 6 € reservation in second class…

    Any idea how I could find out, at which times they offer proper meal?

    Yeah, it looks like that’s a Media Distanca, and doesn’t offer first class.

    It looks like there might be an earlier option if you want first class. An Alvia to Valladolid, then AVE. But I doubt you’d get food on the short AVE leg. And it’s a longer journey with two reservation fees.

    I’m not sure how to check what meal is offered. I don’t think they tell you at any point even if you do a dummy cash booking online. You can ask at the ticket office when making reservations.

    R
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    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • November 4, 2024
    tomas3000 wrote:

    2.) I have seen, there are some Renfe trains in the rail planner app called TRN where are reservation is said to be needed. When I click on the details, there is only a 6€ fee for second class. We have Interrail first class. So is there no fee for us or is there no first class? Could it be, a only second class train where a reservation is needed?

    Those are usually MD trains, with 2nd class only, and they have a €4 reservation fee. Interrail adds their €2 booking fee, although they can't book them… The Deutsche Bahn ticket office can book them, or the Renfe ticket office.

    Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
    T
    Keeps calm and carries on
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    • tomas3000
    • Keeps calm and carries on
    • November 5, 2024

    Another question: What about the Feve trains in the rail planner app? I did not find them, if the stations are „normal renfe“, I only get „normal renfe“ connections even if there would be a shorter Feve connection. And if I search for Feve only stations I do not find them. 
    Feve should be in the Interrail network? If so, how do I know which part not? For example the Hendaye - Irun connection?

    R
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    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • November 5, 2024
    tomas3000 wrote:

    Another question: What about the Feve trains in the rail planner app? I did not find them, if the stations are „normal renfe“, I only get „normal renfe“ connections even if there would be a shorter Feve connection. And if I search for Feve only stations I do not find them. Feve should be in the Interrail network?

    Feve has been part of Renfe for over 10 years now. Passes are valid, also see this page. Regular tickets are cheap though, so using a travel day on a flexipass is not good value.

    Timetables are not in the Rail planner app (or any other planner) because Renfe doesn't share them.

    tomas3000 wrote:

    If so, how do I know which part not? For example the Hendaye - Irun connection?

    Hendaye-Irun is Euskotren, passes not valid. Tickets are also cheap.

    Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
    T
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    • tomas3000
    • Keeps calm and carries on
    • November 5, 2024

    Thank you. 
    one more question ;)

    what about renfe trains where rail planner app says „reservation needed“ but than has no price for it - not even second class…

    for example: 

    22.11.2024

    19:14 palencia - 22:29 santander

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    • rvdborgt
    • Railmaster
    • November 5, 2024

    That's a regional express, see renfe.com.

    2nd class only, reservation probably also €4. Should also be possible via DB (ticket office or by phone).

    Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.

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