Finally Spain will join the one train HSR system of western Europe. reservations now open for Dec 15 start of 5 RTs / day . 2 RTs - Paris Lyon -- Barcelona 6:25, Madrid -- Marseille 6:20 , 1 each Barcelona - Toulose / Lyon. This link note 1.5 & 3 Kv DC operation. Anyone know where ?.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/tgvs-to-barcelona-from-december-15.html
May I assume that RENFE has built a standard-gauge line between Madrid and the Pyrenees to allow for through service?
This train will probably use the same gauge-changing system that the currently operated trains use.
Johnny
Mario can answer those questions better But as I understand the operation ---
1. Operate on the new standard gauge HSR Madrid - Barcelona
2. The new standard gauge on the east coast from Barcelona to France?
3. How long each route has been in service I'll leave to Mario.
The hold up has been completing the Standard Gauge section through Figueras station. The standard gauge freight line avoids both Barcelona and Figueras stations and has been in operation from France to Barcelona Harbor for about two years now. It has been necessary to minimize disruption of commuter traffic into Barcelona's main station, and there was disagreement about the route into Figueras both north and south of the station, plus of course there was the time necessary for testing power supplies and signalling systems.
Hello all ;
Firstly here are the schedules that will be effective from Dec 15
Nuevos trenes España-Francia desde 15/12/13 - Marchas Copérnico 27/11
NUEVOS TRENES MADRID <-> MARSELLA
9725 (**)
9730 (*)
9725
9730
Madrid P.Atocha
15:40
Marseille Saint Charles
7:10
Barcelona Sants
18:13
18:26
Aix-en-Provence TGV
7:21
7:24
Girona
19:03
19:05
Avignon TGV
7:43
7:46
Figueres - Vilafant
19:19
19:22
Nimes
8:06
8:09
Perpignan
19:47
19:52
Montpellier
8:34
8:37
Béziers
20:39
20:42
9:15
9:18
21:21
21:28
10:03
10:07
21:53
21:56
10:31
10:34
22:19
22:22
10:47
10:49
22:42
22:45
11:27
11:40
22:58
14:13
NUEVOS TRENES BARCELONA <-> PARÍS
9702 (**)
9706 (**)
9703
9707
9:20
16:20
9:58
10:01
16:58
17:01
10:15
10:18
17:15
17:18
10:44
10:51
17:44
17:51
Narbonne
11:25
11:28
18:24
18:27
18:41
18:44
12:18
12:25
19:21
19:24
12:49
12:52
19:49
Valence TGV
13:38
13:41
Paris Gare de Lyon
15:53
9711 (*)
9715 (*)
9710
9714
7:15
14:07
16:18
16:21
10:06
10:09
17:06
17:09
10:37
17:34
17:37
11:32
11:35
18:32
18:35
12:08
12:13
19:08
19:13
12:42
12:45
19:42
19:45
12:59
13:01
19:59
20:01
13:40
20:40
NUEVOS TRENES Barcelona <-> Toulouse
9720
9735
9721
9734
10:24
Toulouse Ma.
20:24
11:01
11:03
Carcasonne
21:05
21:08
11:17
11:20
22:04
22:07
11:43
11:48
22:30
22:33
12:46
22:46
22:48
13:31
23:26
NUEVOS TRENES Barcelona <-> Lyon
9738 (**)
9741 (*)
9739
9740
17:25
Lyon Part Dieu
7:36
18:02
18:04
8:11
8:14
18:18
18:21
9:02
9:05
18:51
9:30
9:35
19:27
20:21
20:28
11:06
11:09
20:56
20:59
11:33
11:36
21:45
21:48
11:49
11:51
22:24
12:29
(*) Del 12/01 a 02/02/14 No Circulan DOMINGOS
(**) Del 12/01 a 02/02/14 No Circulan SÁBADOS
My excuses, but I only have them in Frnch/Spanish
As for the rest : these trains will be using the existing line (opened some 2 years ago) from Barcelona to Perpignan. Previosly only freight trains, that used the broad gauge line with a third rail inserted for standard gauge operations up untill Figueres, and then a branch to Figueres Villafant station in the HSL (also some Intercity services from Valencia use this branch). From Villafant ownwards, the line is used by international freight services from the Port of Barcelona and the Seat car factory at Martorell (in BCN suburbs) hauled by pairs of 'Eurosprinter 1' series 252 electrical locos (adapted to operate on french lines at 1,5 Kv DC, tehe engines are now tri-current, able to poerate at 25 Kv ac, 3 Kv dc, and 1,5 Kv dc) and Dayse TGVs that for now terminate at Villafant and connect with Spanish AVEs to Barcelona and Madrid.
As for the services, Madrid-Marseille, Barcelona to Toulouse and Barcelona to Lyon will possibly be operated by RENFE's AVE series 100 units, and services from Barcelona to Paris with Dayse TGVs. The considerable delay in the start of these services (the were due to start in April), was related with certification tests required for the AVE series 100 traisn to operate in France (now these are also tri-current, they were originally dual voltage only).
With the new services in operation, the night Elipsos Talgo from Barcelona to Paris will cease operations
Merci y gracias, Mario. It took me a moment to comprehend the layout, but since we all use Arabic numerals, it is not difficult to comprehend.
Deggesty Merci y gracias, Mario. It took me a moment to comprehend the layout, but since we all use Arabic numerals, it is not difficult to comprehend.
The problem of 'difficult comprehension' is related with the fact that the 'passage' from PDF to Word format (in order to be published here) altered all the table formats of the schedules. They really look nice in the original.
Now, two curiosities about the trains and the converted track :
The series 100 AVE trains are now the trainsets in Europe that probaly have the most compreensive array of cab signaling systems, wich are : LZB (wich is used in the Madrid to Sevilla and Madrid to Malaga HSLs), ASFA TBS (an indigenous cab signalling system that is used as a back up system in case all other are out of service in spanish HSLs, wich implies a speed limit of 200 Kmhr when activated), ERTMS (in use in the Madrid- Barcelona-Perpignan HSL) and ATP (Ericsson's 'Ebicab' system, wich is used in the Spanish 'MEditerranean corridor' and in France, in a simpler version, wich is called 'KVB' - probaly the trains got some minor adptations in order to make them compatible in both spanish - Ebicab 900 - and French - Ebicab 700). Posssibly these trains still got the original 'Crocodile' system, and ancient form of cab signal wich is still used in most french conventional lines. Here's a link to wikipedia's page for these trains :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AVE_Class_100
About the 'conversion' of the conventional line to dual gauge from the Barcelona Area to Figueres; it's a really starnge one, because in most cases, only one of the tracks got the third rail (and in some cases some sideins for meets of trains of international gauge were built), so that complicates operation too much. Also the port of Barcelona was converted to standard gauge, and switching is no lnger operated by renfe. The following video, taken from the back of a Talgo train shows the track arrangments pretty well on the conventional line
watch?v=Qk1q lT4ZPY
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