Trenhotel

Trenhotel is a long distance, high-quality overnight train service which uses Talgo tilting trains technology[1] and sleeping cars developed by the Spanish rail network operator Renfe. It is operated by Renfe when it operates within Spain, and was operated by its subsidiary Elipsos when in France, Switzerland and Italy.

Renfe Trenhotel
Trenhotel Salvador Dalí at Milano Centrale railway station
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
LocaleSpain
Current operator(s)Renfe Operadora
On-board services
Class(es)Sleeper Service (Turista, Preferente, Gran Clase) and Seats (Turista, Preferente)
Catering facilitiesDining car and café
Technical
Rolling stockTalgo
Operating speed220 km/h (137 mph) (top)

The specially developed Talgo carriages are sometimes used by other railway companies, although usually in other livery. As with most quality European overnight trains, Trenhotel can offer special facilities for disabled passengers. Previously a competing night train service called Tren Estrella operated within Spain ; this used traditional carriages on conventional Spanish (broad gauge) tracks.

Composition and services

Each Talgo train is composed of several interchangeable carriage types, permitting flexible composition depending on the mission. Tilting train technology is used with the series IV, V, VI and VII carriages.

The series IV do not have gauge change required for cross-border routes and high speed lines, consequently being restricted to operate within the Iberian Peninsula standard network. The series VI are approved for circulation in France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Portugal.

A typical Trenhotel composition has:[2]

  • Tourist Seats (asientos turistas): similar to the first class (aircraft style) seats on regular trains. On Series VII and international carriages these can be reclined until they are completely horizontal.
  • Tourist Cabins: These have washing facilities and four beds which are sold either as a family unit (the cabin is reserved as a whole) or alternatively individual beds may be sold separately so that male and female passengers who may be strangers are not mixed
  • Preferred Cabins: Equipped with a sink flush toilet closet these have two beds, which are sold as single a unit for one or two occupants.
  • High-class cabins, feature a shower, toilet and two beds, which are also sold as single a unit for one or two occupants.
  • Cafeteria service units usually with seating and often some limited cabin service.
  • Dining car providing full European style meals of different types, depending on the time of the day, and some limited service outside of usual working-hours.

Trenhotel units ordinarily travel at between 180 km/h (110 mph) and 220 km/h (140 mph)[3] with an average speed of around 200 km/h (120 mph).

Traction

Trenhotel units are trailers so all need to incorporate a tractor locomotive. On international routes the locomotive unit is changed at the border. Within Spain Trenhotel usually uses a Renfe series 252 in electrified areas and Renfe series 334 diesel locomotive in non-electrified areas.

Routes

Trenhotel routes are named after famous Spanish places or people. Lately routes are limited, be sure to check with the train station (or online train app) as to which ones are running.

Domestic routes
Service Name Spanish rail stations visited
Galicia ruta La Coruña
Barcelona-Sants to A Coruña via Zaragoza & Leon		Barcelona-Sants · Campo de Tarragona · Lérida-Pirineos · Zaragoza-Delicias · Tudela de Navarra · Castejón de Ebro · Logroño · Burgos-Rosa de Lima · Palencia · León · Astorga · Ponferrada · O Barco de Valdeorras · A Rúa-Petín · San Clodio-Quiroga · Monforte de Lemos · Sarria · Lugo · Curtis · Betanzos-Infesta · A Coruña
Galicia ruta Vigo
Barcelona-Sants to Vigo via Zaragoza & Leon		Barcelona-Sants · Campo de Tarragona · Lérida-Pirineos · Zaragoza-Delicias · Tudela de Navarra · Castejón de Ebro · Logroño · Burgos-Rosa de Lima · Palencia · León · Astorga · Ponferrada · O Barco de Valdeorras · A Rúa-Petín · San Clodio-Quiroga · Monforte de Lemos · Ourense-Empalme · Guillarrei · O Porriño · Redondela de Galicia · Vigo
Rías Gallegas/Rías Baixas
Madrid - Chamartín to Vigo via Leon & Ourense		Madrid-Chamartín · Ávila· Medina del Campo · Valladolid-Campo Grande · León · Veguellina · Astorga · Bembibre · Ponferrada · O Barco de Valdeorras · A Rúa-Petín · San Clodio-Quiroga · Monforte de Lemos · Ourense-Empalme · Ribadabia · Guillarrei · O Porriño · Redondela· Vigo · Pontevedra
Atlántico
Madrid-Chamartín to A Coruña and Ferrol via Leon & Lugo		Madrid-Chamartín · Ávila · Medina del Campo · Valladolid-Campo Grande · León · Veguellina · Astorga · Bembibre · Ponferrada · O Barco de Valdeorras · A Rúa-Petín · San Clodio-Quiroga · Monforte de Lemos · Sarria · Lugo · Gutiriz · Curtis · Betanzos-Infesta · A Coruña · Betanzos-Cidade · Pontedeume · Ferrol
International routes
Service Name European stations visited
Surexpreso o Surex
(North coast/French border) - Lisbon		Hendaye (France) · Irún · San Sebastián · Vitoria · Miranda de Ebro · Burgos-Rosa de Lima · Valladolid-Campo Grande · Medina del Campo · Salamanca · Fuente de San Esteban-Boadilla · Ciudad Rodrigo · Fuentes de Oñoro · Villar-Formoso · Guarda · Vila Franca das Naves · Celorico da Beira · Mangualde · Nelas · Santa Comba-Dao · Pampilhosa · Coimbra · Pombal · Fátima · Entroncamento · Lisboa-Estación de Oriente · Lisboa-Santa Apolónia
Lusitania

Madrid-Lisbon (via Salamanca)

 Madrid-Chamartín · Ávila · Medina del Campo · Salamanca · Coimbra · Entroncamento · Lisboa-Oriente ·

Lisboa-Santa Apolónia

Suspension of service during the Covid-19 pandemic

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trenhotel connections were discontinued from March 17, 2020. At the end of May 2020, Renfe announced the suspension of all night Trenhotel services due to lack of profitability. Therefore Lisbon loses its only international train connection to Spain and France, and thus also to the rest of Europe[4]. After talks with regional governments, Renfe announced on May 2, 2020 that Trenhotel services to the Spanish region of Galicia would not be discontinued.[5]

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References
  1. "Hotel-train". Talgo. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  2. "Diagramas de Trenes - Trenhotel Serie 7" (PDF). Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  3. "Our Trains - Trenhotel". Renfe Operadora. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  4. https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20200531/481443734491/renfe-suprime-rutas-tren-hoteles-lusitania-greta.html
  5. https://www.lanuevacronica.com/renfe-no-suprimira-definitivamente-el-tren-hotel-que-une-galicia-con-barcelona
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