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The planner doesn't identify certain destinations/routes

R

Hi,

We are looking to use the eurail site for the first time to book a journey from London to Spain. No issues up to a point with making the plan, but we want to visit Oviedo in northern Spain and then travel from there to Biarritz. The planner doesn’t identify Oviedo as a destination at all.  When I select the nearest city that is an option (Santander) it appears to be impossible to travel from there to Biarritz. I have checked an online rail map for Spain and there is a line from Oviedo that heads in the direction of Biarritz.

Is there an way of using the planner to refine the search to include more out of the way destinations and less traveled routes or is the planner only suitable for journeys to major cities?

Thanks in advance for any advice at all.

 

 

Best answer by Al_G

Spain is just something else when it comes to this sort of planning. Away from the main routes everything is classified as cercanias - commuter. It is then compartmentalized into regions and not presented in any consistent or easily searchable way, this all despite one company running most of it.

 

The first line you are asking about is hidden away under the FEVE heading, FEVE being the name for the narrow gauge routes in parts of Spain. Sadly those lines have a terrible service, just 2 trains each way Oviedo - Santander and 3 Santander - Bilbao. You can get the schedules here: https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-feve/timetables

 

I assume that if the locals use public transport in that area it is going to be bus not train.

 

From Bilbao to Hendaye in France the services are run by Euskotren, not part of RENFE but run by the Basque country government. These are in comparison well run with decent service on their lines but not valid with Interrail.

https://www.euskotren.eus/en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euskotren_Trena

From Hendaye to Biarritz there are regular SNCF services.

It would probably be better just to use local tickets for travel in this area as they are all fairly cheap.

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    • Al_G
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    • July 6, 2022

    Spain is just something else when it comes to this sort of planning. Away from the main routes everything is classified as cercanias - commuter. It is then compartmentalized into regions and not presented in any consistent or easily searchable way, this all despite one company running most of it.

     

    The first line you are asking about is hidden away under the FEVE heading, FEVE being the name for the narrow gauge routes in parts of Spain. Sadly those lines have a terrible service, just 2 trains each way Oviedo - Santander and 3 Santander - Bilbao. You can get the schedules here: https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-feve/timetables

     

    I assume that if the locals use public transport in that area it is going to be bus not train.

     

    From Bilbao to Hendaye in France the services are run by Euskotren, not part of RENFE but run by the Basque country government. These are in comparison well run with decent service on their lines but not valid with Interrail.

    https://www.euskotren.eus/en

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euskotren_Trena

    From Hendaye to Biarritz there are regular SNCF services.

    It would probably be better just to use local tickets for travel in this area as they are all fairly cheap.

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      AnnaB
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    • Roscoe1878
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    • July 6, 2022

    Wow! That’s a pretty comprehensive answer, many thanks Al_G.

    It sounds like a bit of a seat-of-the-pants thing around that area. Like you say, if the local trains a quite cheap, then is no big deal.

    Thanks again.

    R

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    Roscoe1878 wrote:

    Wow! That’s a pretty comprehensive answer, many thanks Al_G.

    It sounds like a bit of a seat-of-the-pants thing around that area. Like you say, if the local trains a quite cheap, then is no big deal.

    Thanks again.

    R

     

    I’d been looking at a trip in that area myself so just sharing the results of some frustrating searches and interestingly presented Spanish websites.

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    Have been myself there some yrs ago-the best of the FEVE lines is the inland line (just 1/day!) Bilbao-Leon (ends nearby, last piece with railways bus into town). FEVE is now  part of RENFE and hence passes SHOULD be valid-but a recent report told us he was still charged 50% of fare (with valid pass)-as the machines of the conductors selling the tic have not yet been programmed after 2-3 yrs. and passes are ultimately extremely rare there. yes-BUSes also run-much faster (por autopista) and much more frequent (ev hour or even more)-mostl by ALSA.  (which is Nat. Express-well known to Brits).

    In Asturias=the area around Oviedo/Gijon is a more dense local network, interspered with also RENFE cercanias lines.

    Note that RENFE Cerc (rodalies in Catalunya) are not spread all over country-rather they are local commuter lines serving the smaller area around all main cities with more frequent service (and NO reserv and all that-usually magn. stripe tickets and gates), they are not at all interconnected to each other.

    For railfans a real treat-if you just want to travel quick+easy=its bus.

    Note these are NOT real trains, but more trams-with a little more comfy seats and a loo (if open and working) in the car.

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    • July 6, 2022
    mcadv wrote:

    Have been myself there some yrs ago-the best of the FEVE lines is the inland line (just 1/day!) Bilbao-Leon (ends nearby, last piece with railways bus into town). FEVE is now  part of RENFE and hence passes SHOULD be valid-but a recent report told us he was still charged 50% of fare (with valid pass)-as the machines of the conductors selling the tic have not yet been programmed after 2-3 yrs.

    FEVE have been accepting (well, sort of) Interrail for 7 years now. Staff training seems to be a serious problem.

    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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    mcadv wrote:

    Have been myself there some yrs ago-the best of the FEVE lines is the inland line (just 1/day!) Bilbao-Leon (ends nearby, last piece with railways bus into town). FEVE is now  part of RENFE and hence passes SHOULD be valid-but a recent report told us he was still charged 50% of fare (with valid pass)-as the machines of the conductors selling the tic have not yet been programmed after 2-3 yrs. and passes are ultimately extremely rare there. yes-BUSes also run-much faster (por autopista) and much more frequent (ev hour or even more)-mostl by ALSA.  (which is Nat. Express-well known to Brits).

     


    Thanks for that, I will definitely put the Leon FEVE line on the list.

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