Closed Salou railway station, Spain.

[Vespa]

Yesterday I visited Salou and came across a closed railway line, noticed the tracks are in the process of being lifted and the station is closed, I spoke to the locals who said the line has closed and a new line built further North to connect Port Adventura.

Further internet search has revealed that it closed in 2020.

Does anybody know if the other end is physically connected to the new line or is it an totally isolated line ?

Is the new line switched from Iberian gauge to stephenson gauge ?

Thanks

 

[Austriantrain]

Yesterday I visited Salou and came across a closed railway line, noticed the tracks are in the process of being lifted and the station is closed, I spoke to the locals who said the line has closed and a new line built further North to connect Port Adventura.

Further internet search has revealed that it closed in 2020.

Does anybody know if the other end is physically connected to the new line or is it an totally isolated line ?

Is the new line switched from Iberian gauge to stephenson gauge ?

Thanks

I can add something to your last question: the new line, the so called Variante de Vandellós, is mostly in Iberian gauge for now. It branches off the Barcelona - Madrid HSL just after Camp de Tarragona station, still in standard gauge. A bit further south, before crossing the Tarragona - Reus trains change gauge. The rest of the new line is Iberian gauge; however, the entire Camp de Tarragona - Valencia is slated for a change-over to standard gauge in the future.

I think there are plans for a tram-train on the disused line but I don’t know how realistic these are.

Incidentally, while obviously replacing the old single-track line with double-track was very necessary, I consider the whole set-up there one of the most absurd the Spanish have had on their new HS network, effectively cutting off the major cities of Tarragona and Reus from access to this important corridor.

 

[Vespa]

I can add something to your last question: the new line, the so called Variante de Vandellós, is mostly in Iberian gauge for now. It branches off the Barcelona - Madrid HSL just after Camp de Tarragona station, still in standard gauge. A bit further south, before crossing the Tarragona - Reus trains change gauge. The rest of the new line is Iberian gauge; however, the entire Camp de Tarragona - Valencia is slated for a change-over to standard gauge in the future.

I think there are plans for a tram-train on the disused line but I don’t know how realistic these are.

Incidentally, while obviously replacing the old single-track line with double-track was very necessary, I consider the whole set-up there one of the most absurd the Spanish have had on their new HS network, effectively cutting off the major cities of Tarragona and Reus from access to this important corridor.

Very informative reply, I'm very intrigued.

Why did it cut off Tarragona and Reus ? Are they now isolated from any railway connection ?

Is the closed Salou track connecting the two towns ?

I assume as you said tracks awitching gauges, they're using variable gauge trains ?

 

[stuu]

Incidentally, while obviously replacing the old single-track line with double-track was very necessary, I consider the whole set-up there one of the most absurd the Spanish have had on their new HS network, effectively cutting off the major cities of Tarragona and Reus from access to this important corridor.

There are still trains from Tarragona towards Valencia, just not as many as previously. They have done similar things elsewhere e.g. Burgos and Cuenca where the station is moved out of the town. The town authorities have a lot of say over planning, they want to get rid of level crossings and use the land for other things and RENFE don't care as they get to drop slow, often constrained routes through towns.

Its all a bit short-sighted, and I suspect there's also an element of corruption, with all that nice prime real estate suddenly available

 

[ABB125]

I used this station a few times in 2018 (I think). I wouldn't have expected it to be closed!
Is the whole single track section from (somewhere near) Tarragona to south of Salou closed, or just the bit through Salou itself? (Ie: is Port Aventura station still open?)

 

[Vespa]

Is it a through line to Cambrils or a branch line ?

 

[Austriantrain]

Is it a through line to Cambrils or a branch line ?

It used to be the Tarragona - Valencia mainline. As I understand it, Port Aventura is its „stump“.

 

[Vespa]

It used to be the Tarragona - Valencia mainline. As I understand it, Port Aventura is its „stump“.

Thanks I'm planning to go to Port Aventura during my holiday here, I will have a look while I'm there, maybe a rail map I can look at as well.

Just been to Tarragona today to see Roman sites and other cultural interests I ran out of time for railway stuff, I'm going back tomorrow and will have more time to have a look at Tarragona station, is there a railway museum ?

 

[Snow1964]

Is it a through line to Cambrils or a branch line ?

It was the original line, a new main line runs close to A7 motorway and rejoins south of Cambrils near beach area of Plajta del Torn, by L' Hospitalet de l'infant

This is nearest streetview I can find to where new and old lines meet

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.co.uk

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

The railway museum is at Vilanova i la Geltru (near Sitges) - it has a large collection of RENFE steam locos. Still a working depot for Rodales services.

 

[JRT]

I used this station a few times in 2018 (I think). I wouldn't have expected it to be closed!
Is the whole single track section from (somewhere near) Tarragona to south of Salou closed, or just the bit through Salou itself? (Ie: is Port Aventura station still open?)

I've been to the area a few times in recent years and wasn't really sure of the local network as I'd cycle over from a nearby resort. The local station is now Salou-Port Aventura and renfe offer a combined train + admission ticket valid on the Regional Express train at a a cost just above the admission price.

The railway museum is at Vilanova i la Geltru (near Sitges) - it has a large collection of RENFE steam locos. Still a working depot for Rodales services.

Think there's a combined rail + admission ticket available from local TVMs, though seemed to have trouble using it to gain admission at the museum — I'm not fluent Català so not sure what the problem was. Decided not to pay again but just have a brief look round.

 

[nwales58]

Frequencies on the Salou-Port Aventura stub are poor, many 2 hour gaps. Despite the fancy Rodalies maps it is actually Regional along with everything SW of Sant Vicenc.

The old alignment is part of the Camp de Tarragona (local authority, not the parkway station of the same name) tram-train proposal. Current shape is 3 routes between Reus Tarragona and Cambrils (bending up to the new station), junction at Vila-seca, plus some wiggles. Apparently contract has been let for Vila-seca to Cambrils. Someone else might know more as to timescale and whether this is fully funded.

 

[Austriantrain]

The old alignment is part of the Camp de Tarragona (local authority, not the parkway station of the same name) tram-train proposal. Current shape is 3 routes between Reus Tarragona and Cambrils (bending up to the new station), junction at Vila-seca, plus some wiggles. Apparently contract has been let for Vila-seca to Cambrils. Someone else might know more as to timescale and whether this is fully funded.

Thank you for that information! If LD trains then stopped at Cambrils, at least Tarragona and Reus would have decent connections (and hopefully decent frequencies).

 

[Vespa]

Lots of interesting information !

I'm going back to Tarragona today, I'll pop into the station and have a look at the rail map if any and TVM if there is one to look at a journey planner.

That said I'm surprised at the 2 hour intervals for Port Aventura, it's a long gap for a major resort, I'm going to Port Aventura next week using the local bus as there is no rail connection from Cap Salou.

Just looked up on Google map journey planner, there seems to be only four trains today from Tarragona to Port Aventura as per the screenshot.

 

[Wychwood93]

Lots of interesting information !

I'm going back to Tarragona today, I'll pop into the station and have a look at the rail map if any and TVM if there is one to look at a journey planner.

That said I'm surprised at the 2 hour intervals for Port Aventura, it's a long gap for a major resort, I'm going to Port Aventura next week using the local bus as there is no rail connection from Cap Salou.

Just looked up on Google map journey planner, there seems to be only four trains today from Tarragona to Port Aventura as per the screenshot.

These may be of use:

https://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/02_Horaris/horaris/R17_RT2.pdf

https://rodalies.gencat.cat/web/.content/02_Horaris/horaris/R16-R17.pdf

Been to Salou many times over the years. A pity about the old line, it had a certain old-school charm about it! In spite of a somewhat thin timetable it could get very busy - train loadings quite high during the summer season and not too shabby at other times of the year.

 

[Vespa]

Trains seems more frequent than Google maps says.

€2.50 one is good value...

Think I'll catch it later in the day for the hell of it.

 

[Wychwood93]

Trains seems more frequent than Google maps says.

€2.50 one is good value...

Think I'll catch it later in the day for the hell of it.

Another handy tool:

65411 Port Aventura - Adif

www.adif.es

71500 Tarragona - Adif

www.adif.es

 

[nwales58]

Trains seems more frequent than Google maps says.

Is Google Transit ever totally reliable in spain? Even using renfe.com you have to know whether it is the standard site (eg Barcelona-Tarragona), Cercanias/Rodalies (eg the far longer Barcelona-La Tour de Carol) or both. Local bus companies do not all publish up to date information electronically. It is accurate surprisingly often but I would always check the operator's web site, for a bus in spain double check the poster at the bus station.

Bus between Tarragona bus station (opposite end of town to the railway station) and the centre of Salou is 4-5 per hour, operator is Plana (https://empresaplana.cat). Google shows about 2-3 per hour. Although to Camp de Tarragona station it seems to show all the services.

 

[Sad Sprinter]

Wow, I went there when I was six. I have a clear memory of a TGV speeding through the station, although it couldn't have been a TGV so not sure what that was. Can't believe they've closed it.

 

[stuu]

Wow, I went there when I was six. I have a clear memory of a TGV speeding through the station, although it couldn't have been a TGV so not sure what that was. Can't believe they've closed it.

A Euromed service. Those were run using broad gauge TGV derivatives (Class 101 in Spain)

 

[Sad Sprinter]

A Euromed service. Those were run using broad gauge TGV derivatives (Class 101 in Spain)

Weird, in my memory I could have sworn I saw the TGV livery on the train. Funny how the mind plays tricks on you.

 

[Vespa]

Popped into Reus station out of curiosity, noticed an old railway route map dated 2014 and an updated map showing Port Aventura as a stub branch line.

Having visited Portaventura today, I took the opportunity to look at the station, I can confirm it's a truncated stub of a former through line essentially a branch line, as I walked from it to a level crossing, a section of rail was cut to prevent further travel to Salou town centre, i contued walking the line until I arrived at the closed Salou station itself, I think it doesn't make sense as the Salou Portaventura is some distance from the town centre.

New Cambrils station is a mile out of the centre, old Cambrils is demolished and tracks lifted making reinstatement impossible with a level crossing removed.

Old and new Cambrils station photo set added 17/09/23

New Cambrils set with four track capability, the old line were single track with passing loops.