Trains and other things: Barcelona to València

The last day of 2017 I'm travelling to Valencia. First a short trip to Barcelona Estació de França.

Media Distancia train is a Renfe Class S-449 manufactured by CAF

Changing trains at Passeig de Gràcia. Here is Renfe Class 450

Renfe Class 450 is a double deck train, similar to French Z2N which can be found in Paris RER system

Estació de França station opened in 1848 and was re-built in 1929. It is considered to be the most beautiful station in Barcelona, and one of the few that is not underground.

Renfe Class 450 and 448

The station is a terminus, many regional trains terminates here. Also it is terminus for long distance trains using Iberian gauge

Restaurant

Av. del Marquès de l'Argenter

My train to Valencia is a Renfe Class S-130 or Talgo 250. The trainsets are designed for high-speed services on Iberian gauge and high-speed standard gauge lines; they can change gauge at low speed without stopping using Talgo's RD variable gauge system.

Manufactured by Spanish company Talgo in 2006

Preferente, 1st class coach

S-130 operates Alvia routes between Madrid to Gijon and Bilbao, and Alicante to Santander. Since 2008 they have replaced Euromed S-101 trains on Barcelona to Alicante line which I will taking today.

Not many passengers departing from Estació de França station. The train does also a stop at Barcelona Sants station, where 95% of passengers are boarding.

Euromed service in Preferente class includes a welcome drink which was a Cava (sparkling wine from Catalonia).

Euromed trains follow the Mediterranean Corridor between Barcelona and Alicante following a conventional route but adapted to high speed (Wikipedia)

Tarragona

Port Aventura

Snack with two sandwiches and a glass of wine

Castellón

Section between Castellón and Valencia has a third rail installed thus supporting trains with standard gauge. Recently S-100 trains have been introduced for services between Madrid and Castellón

Arriving to Valencia, where the high speed line from Madrid is terminating

Two S-130 trains at Valencia Joaquín Sorolla station

The station opened in 2010 as the provisional terminus AVE station, it is planned to be replaced by the new underground Central station.

Renfe Class S-102 or Talgo 350 trains are terminating here, these trains are capable of only standard gauge operations

Located very near is the Valencia Estación del Norte which was opened in 1917

MD train at Valencia Nord station

This station is only serving Iberian gauge trains, and mostly regional and local services

The building is one of the main works of the Valencian Art Nouveau and was declared Good of Cultural Heritage in 1987. /Wikipedia

The station is located in the central part of Valencia

Ajuntament de València

Plaça de l'Ajuntament

It is over 20C but it is still possible to do some skating

Plaça de la Reina

Iglesia de Santa Catalina Mártir (Santa Caterina)

Torres de Serranos (Porta de Serrans)

Pont de la Trinitat. River Turia was diverted from central parts of Valencia in 1969 to prevent floodings. The old course of the river has been turned into a central green-space for the city, a cultural attraction known as the garden of the Turia.

Famous architect Santiago Calatrava has created a large group of buildings during 1991-2006. The buildings are City of Arts and Sciences and Opera House in Valencia