Marcos Castro
@marcostrain.bsky.social
Content creator & railway enthusiast. I make videos on YouTube and write posts on my blog about my train trips and experiences around the world.
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Marcos Castro
@marcostrain.bsky.social
· Dec 31
As 2024 is coming to an end, it’s time for a #RailReview! Here are some facts about this year.
🚄 Trips: 290 approx.
📏 Distance: +31.000 km
🌍 Countries visited: 14
📍 Longest journey: Wien - Hamburg
I’m very much looking forward to a new year full of rail adventures! 🎉
🚄 Trips: 290 approx.
📏 Distance: +31.000 km
🌍 Countries visited: 14
📍 Longest journey: Wien - Hamburg
I’m very much looking forward to a new year full of rail adventures! 🎉
🚄🇹🇷 Is it really possible to travel from Barcelona to Ankara just by train? I’ve wanted to do this trip for such a long time, and last month I finally had the chance. This will be a thread about the incredible journey I took!
🚆 11 trains
🛤️ 5,776 km
🕓 4 days
🌍 9 countries
🚆 11 trains
🛤️ 5,776 km
🕓 4 days
🌍 9 countries
November 1, 2025 at 6:45 PM
🚄🇹🇷 Is it really possible to travel from Barcelona to Ankara just by train? I’ve wanted to do this trip for such a long time, and last month I finally had the chance. This will be a thread about the incredible journey I took!
🚆 11 trains
🛤️ 5,776 km
🕓 4 days
🌍 9 countries
🚆 11 trains
🛤️ 5,776 km
🕓 4 days
🌍 9 countries
🚆🆕 The first Coradia Stream for #FGC is ready! These new trains, built by @alstom.bsky.social, will be used on the R-Aeroport line, a fast service linking Barcelona-El Prat Airport ✈️ with the city. They have capacity for 656 passengers, featuring wider aisles and dedicated luggage spaces.
October 24, 2025 at 9:40 AM
🚆🆕 The first Coradia Stream for #FGC is ready! These new trains, built by @alstom.bsky.social, will be used on the R-Aeroport line, a fast service linking Barcelona-El Prat Airport ✈️ with the city. They have capacity for 656 passengers, featuring wider aisles and dedicated luggage spaces.
🚄🇩🇪 The new ICE L sets will enter service with the next timetable change in December, initially on the Berlin-Cologne route. The L stands for low-floor entry, the main feature of the trains built by @talgo.com. This week, I saw one of them next to Warschauer Straße station.
October 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM
🚄🇩🇪 The new ICE L sets will enter service with the next timetable change in December, initially on the Berlin-Cologne route. The L stands for low-floor entry, the main feature of the trains built by @talgo.com. This week, I saw one of them next to Warschauer Straße station.
🚆🇪🇸 The station of Alcázar de San Juan served as an important connection point for radial lines coming from the centre and south of Spain. It’s less used today but still has some Media Distancia services such as this #MD34009 to Madrid-Chamartín, with a journey time of 1h 43min.
October 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
🚆🇪🇸 The station of Alcázar de San Juan served as an important connection point for radial lines coming from the centre and south of Spain. It’s less used today but still has some Media Distancia services such as this #MD34009 to Madrid-Chamartín, with a journey time of 1h 43min.
🚆🇪🇸 Taking the #MD18331 from Badajoz to Alcázar de San Juan, worked by a diesel S-559. This train doesn’t have many passengers, mainly local people from the small towns along the route. After stopping in Puertollano and Ciudad Real is when it starts to get busy.
October 10, 2025 at 7:00 PM
🚆🇪🇸 Taking the #MD18331 from Badajoz to Alcázar de San Juan, worked by a diesel S-559. This train doesn’t have many passengers, mainly local people from the small towns along the route. After stopping in Puertollano and Ciudad Real is when it starts to get busy.
🚄🇪🇸 Travelling from Madrid-Chamartín to Badajoz with the #ALVIA192 in Elige Confort. The journey takes 4h 39min and is worked by a hybrid S-730, built by #Talgo. This train is dual-voltage and features a variable gauge system. There’s also a cafeteria selling drinks and snacks.
October 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🚄🇪🇸 Again with #Iryo from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha to Barcelona-Sants in Infinita Bistró, the most flexible option. The #IRY6201 connects the two cities in just 2h 52min, stopping only at Zaragoza-Delicias. For dinner, I chose the chicken thigh stuffed with foie and raisins.
October 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🚆🇪🇸 Even with the opening of the “Variante de Pajares” in 2023, there’s still a regional train that takes the old route. The #R12101 departs Valladolid-Campo Grande early in the morning and arrives in Gijón at midday. It has few passengers, but the views are worth the journey.
October 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
🚆🇪🇸 Even with the opening of the “Variante de Pajares” in 2023, there’s still a regional train that takes the old route. The #R12101 departs Valladolid-Campo Grande early in the morning and arrives in Gijón at midday. It has few passengers, but the views are worth the journey.
🚆🇪🇸 From Zaragoza-Delicias to Miranda de Ebro on the #REX18021, worked by an S-470. This service begins at Zaragoza-Miraflores station, just outside the city. It’s almost impossible to find a seat until Pamplona, as there are many travellers. After that, it becomes less crowded.
October 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
🚆🇪🇸 From Zaragoza-Delicias to Miranda de Ebro on the #REX18021, worked by an S-470. This service begins at Zaragoza-Miraflores station, just outside the city. It’s almost impossible to find a seat until Pamplona, as there are many travellers. After that, it becomes less crowded.
🚆🇪🇸 The regional services between Lleida-Pirineus and Zaragoza-Delicias don’t have many passengers, as they have been replaced by trains that use the high-speed line. There are two daily services in each direction connecting the two cities. I travelled with the early #R15507.
October 2, 2025 at 6:00 PM
🚆🇪🇸 The regional services between Lleida-Pirineus and Zaragoza-Delicias don’t have many passengers, as they have been replaced by trains that use the high-speed line. There are two daily services in each direction connecting the two cities. I travelled with the early #R15507.
🚆💨 I always like to depart from Barcelona-Estació de França, a station full of history and exceptional architecture, with its glass roof and marble halls. It is the terminus for several regional lines of @rodalies.info, such as the R14, which I took to Lleida-Pirineus via Tarragona.
September 29, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🚆💨 I always like to depart from Barcelona-Estació de França, a station full of history and exceptional architecture, with its glass roof and marble halls. It is the terminus for several regional lines of @rodalies.info, such as the R14, which I took to Lleida-Pirineus via Tarragona.
🚆💨 I always like to depart from Barcelona-Estació de França, a station full of history and exceptional architecture, with its glass roof and marble halls. It is the terminus for several regional lines of @rodalies.info, such as the R14, which I took to Lleida-Pirineus via Tarragona.
September 29, 2025 at 7:55 AM
🚆💨 I always like to depart from Barcelona-Estació de França, a station full of history and exceptional architecture, with its glass roof and marble halls. It is the terminus for several regional lines of @rodalies.info, such as the R14, which I took to Lleida-Pirineus via Tarragona.
🚄🇪🇸 It’s been more than a year since my last trip with #Iryo. This time, I’m travelling from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha to Barcelona-Sants on the #IRY6181 in Infinita Bistró, which is the equivalent of first class and includes a meal that you can select when buying your ticket.
September 24, 2025 at 8:35 PM
🚆🇪🇸 Taking the #MD13902 from Sevilla-Santa Justa to Málaga-María Zambrano, which runs on the conventional line and has a travel time of 3h 25min. This is my first time travelling with an S-598. These diesel trains were built in 2004 by CAF and serve medium-distance routes.
September 22, 2025 at 9:40 PM
🚆🇪🇸 Taking the #MD13902 from Sevilla-Santa Justa to Málaga-María Zambrano, which runs on the conventional line and has a travel time of 3h 25min. This is my first time travelling with an S-598. These diesel trains were built in 2004 by CAF and serve medium-distance routes.
🚆🇪🇸 I think this is one of the longest train journeys in Spain. I went from Madrid-Atocha Cercanías to Sevilla-Santa Justa with the #MD17902, which covers 653 km and takes about 8h 3min. This route serves many small towns and cities. I was surprised by the number of passengers!
September 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
🚆🇪🇸 I think this is one of the longest train journeys in Spain. I went from Madrid-Atocha Cercanías to Sevilla-Santa Justa with the #MD17902, which covers 653 km and takes about 8h 3min. This route serves many small towns and cities. I was surprised by the number of passengers!
🚄💨 Due to the withdrawal of Talgo #Avril sets from the Barcelona-Madrid high-speed line, #AVLO services are currently being worked by S-103 trains. I travelled on the #AVL6302 between the two cities, and as I had bought my ticket before this change, I was assigned a new seat.
September 20, 2025 at 9:25 AM
🚄🇪🇸 From València-Estació del Nord, I continue to Barcelona-Sants with the #IC460. I’m travelling again in Elige Confort but this time on board an S-120. This train is dual-voltage as well as dual-gauge, with a top speed of 250 km/h. I also went to the cafeteria for some snacks.
September 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
🚄🇪🇸 From València-Estació del Nord, I continue to Barcelona-Sants with the #IC460. I’m travelling again in Elige Confort but this time on board an S-120. This train is dual-voltage as well as dual-gauge, with a top speed of 250 km/h. I also went to the cafeteria for some snacks.
🚆🇪🇸 Taking the #IC1460 from Cartagena to València-Estació del Nord in Elige Confort. This train consists of a #Talgo6 set hauled by a Class 334 diesel locomotive until Alacant-Terminal, where it’s changed to an electric Class 252. I got something from the cafeteria for lunch.
September 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
🚆🇪🇸 Back to Murcia del Carmen on the last #Proximidad service of the day from Cartagena. The journey takes 1h 10min and is worked by a double S-599. These modern trains, built by #CAF in 2008, are the diesel variant of the S-449 and have very similar features and interiors.
September 16, 2025 at 7:20 PM
🚆🇪🇸 Back to Murcia del Carmen on the last #Proximidad service of the day from Cartagena. The journey takes 1h 10min and is worked by a double S-599. These modern trains, built by #CAF in 2008, are the diesel variant of the S-449 and have very similar features and interiors.
🚆🇪🇸 In Cartagena, there’s a metre-gauge railway line that connects the city with the town of Los Nietos. It’s 19.6 km long and was originally built for mining and freight transport. Today, it’s used for passenger services as a local commuter line, with trains every 40 min.
September 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
🚆🇪🇸 In Cartagena, there’s a metre-gauge railway line that connects the city with the town of Los Nietos. It’s 19.6 km long and was originally built for mining and freight transport. Today, it’s used for passenger services as a local commuter line, with trains every 40 min.
🚆🇪🇸 From Murcia del Carmen, I continue to Cartagena with this #Proximidad service, which is something between a commuter and a regional train. This time I’m also travelling on an S-592, but it’s a refurbished subseries for longer journeys, with a raised top speed of 140 km/h.
September 8, 2025 at 8:35 PM
🚆🇪🇸 From Murcia del Carmen, I continue to Cartagena with this #Proximidad service, which is something between a commuter and a regional train. This time I’m also travelling on an S-592, but it’s a refurbished subseries for longer journeys, with a raised top speed of 140 km/h.
🚆🇪🇸 I change at Alacant-Terminal to a commuter train bound for Murcia del Carmen. The line is not electrified, which requires the use of an S-592 DMU. This train is known as ‘camello’ 🐫 because of its twin-hump roofline. It was built in 1982 and has a maximum speed of 120 km/h.
September 6, 2025 at 6:36 PM
🚆🇪🇸 I change at Alacant-Terminal to a commuter train bound for Murcia del Carmen. The line is not electrified, which requires the use of an S-592 DMU. This train is known as ‘camello’ 🐫 because of its twin-hump roofline. It was built in 1982 and has a maximum speed of 120 km/h.
🚄💨 Travelling from Barcelona-Sants to Alacant-Terminal 🇪🇸 on board #EM1071 in Prémium. This journey along the Mediterranean 🌊☀️ takes 5h 24min and is operated by a refurbished S-130 high-speed train. As this was an early-morning service, I was served breakfast at my seat 🥐☕.
August 26, 2025 at 3:45 PM
🚄💨 Travelling from Barcelona-Sants to Alacant-Terminal 🇪🇸 on board #EM1071 in Prémium. This journey along the Mediterranean 🌊☀️ takes 5h 24min and is operated by a refurbished S-130 high-speed train. As this was an early-morning service, I was served breakfast at my seat 🥐☕.
🚄🇪🇸 Leaving Madrid-Puerta de Atocha on the #AVE3201 towards Barcelona-Sants, worked by an S-103, part of the “Siemens Velaro” family. This direct service connects the two cities in just 2h 37min. As I had a ticket in Prémium class, I enjoyed a complimentary dinner at my seat.
August 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
🚄🇪🇸 Leaving Madrid-Puerta de Atocha on the #AVE3201 towards Barcelona-Sants, worked by an S-103, part of the “Siemens Velaro” family. This direct service connects the two cities in just 2h 37min. As I had a ticket in Prémium class, I enjoyed a complimentary dinner at my seat.
🚄💨 From Santander to Madrid-Chamartín 🇪🇸 on board the #ALVIA4142 in Elige Confort, the highest travel class. This service uses S-130 trains, built by @talgo.com and equipped with a variable gauge system. I also went to the cafeteria to grab a sandwich and a drink for lunch.
August 23, 2025 at 7:56 PM
🚄💨 From Santander to Madrid-Chamartín 🇪🇸 on board the #ALVIA4142 in Elige Confort, the highest travel class. This service uses S-130 trains, built by @talgo.com and equipped with a variable gauge system. I also went to the cafeteria to grab a sandwich and a drink for lunch.