El Expreso de la Robla Europe, Spain

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El Expreso de la Robla Offers

Members of the Club (free to join, subscribe to newsletter) benefit from:

- CLUB DISCOUNT. Prices shown are before Club discount of 2.5%. No Booking Fee.

Only 15% Deposit secures your suite.

El Expreso de la Robla is a special little train that meanders through the picturesque countryside and coast, stopping for guided tours of the surrounds and overnight; great value tours in a train which also has private bathrooms for all compartments.

Spanish Rail Tour on El Expreso de la Robla

El Expreso de la Robla is a wonderful air-conditioned vintage train that meanders through the picturesque countryside and coast of northern Spain, allowing one to sample the traditions and glamour of the El Transcantábrico route. The route offers all the nostalgia of bygone train travel, with every modern amenity.

During the day, after a self-service breakfast taken on-board the train, a coach and guide await at each destination to take guests to visit the interesting towns and sites along the route, steeped in heritage and history.

Delicious lunches are served at various regional restaurants and at night the train is stationary at stations, which enables passengers to have a peaceful sleep after an evening enjoying the local cuisine and night life of each town.

Dining allowances differ for The Pilgrim Route.

What a very relaxed way to explore the rugged, mountainous coastline of northern Spain, on board a comfortable hotel train that passes through this spectacular scenery.

This external website, Rome2Rio, may be useful for arranging travel to and from your Expreso de la Robla stations.

Accommodation

Compartments. Each cabin has upper and lower berths, wardrobe, luggage carrier, reading light, air conditioning, stereo and telephone, a small en-suite with a hydro massage shower, hair dryer, wash basin and toilet. Please be aware this is a narrow gauge railway and passengers over 6 feet tall may find the beds rather short.

Lounges. There are three lounges offering a bar service, decorated in a classic Spanish vintage style. Here one has breakfast, as well as being able to enjoy a relaxing drink whilst looking out of the panoramic windows, thus having a wonderful view of the spectacular scenery. Daily newspapers, magazines, libraries, video library and television are all available.

Itineraries, Dates and Prices 2023

La Robla - Bilbao to León

Bilbao, Espinosa de los Monteras, Cistierna, León

3 days/2 nights

Meeting Point: 14:00/15:00hrs Concordia de Bilbao Station.

Friday: Bilbao - Espinosa de Los Monteros. Baggage collection from 14:00/15:00hrs at La Concordia station in Bilbao, one of the 1902 heritage buildings of Bilbao’s Belle Époque. At 15:00 there is a welcome talk on board the train. After settling in, El Expreso de La Robla will travel to Espinosa de Los Monteros. Here we take our coach to visit the town of Frías and the Tobera Waterfall. Dinner and overnight stay in Espinosa de los Monteros, a beautiful town in Burgos Province’s Las Merindades region.

Saturday: Espinosa de Los Monteros–Cistierna. While enjoying our first breakfast on board, the train will take us to Mataporquera. From here, we travel by coach to some magnificent spots on Palencia’s Romanesque Route that forms part of the Camino de Santiago; Carrión de los Condes, Fromista, and Saldaña. We tour this locality and enjoy some free time before going on to visit the Canal of Castile and Romanesque Church of San Martín. Free time and lunch. In the afternoon, we continue to travel back in time by visiting the Roman town of La Olmeda and its magnificent mosaic collection. Back on board the train, El Expreso de La Robla will take us to Cistierna, where we will have dinner and spend the night.

Sunday: Cistierna–Leon. While we have breakfast, El Expreso de La Robla travels to San Feliz. From there we travel by coach to the city of Leon. Tour of its old town, San Isidoro, and the Cathedral. Free time before ending our trip around 14:00 hrs

Dates and Prices 2024

Bilbao to León. To follow

Cabin, per person

Double occupancy, before discount TBA

Single supplement, before discount TBA

La Robla - León to Bilbao

León, Cistierna, Espinosa de los Monteras, Bilbao

3 days/2 nights

Meeting Point: 13:30 hrs in León’s FEVE Station

Friday: León - Cistierna. Luggage check-in from 13:30 h to 14:30 h at León’s FEVE Station. Our coach will then take us to San Feliz, where El Expreso de La Robla will be waiting for us. Presentation of the crew, settling in, and transfer to Matallana. From here our coach will take us through the spectacular Hoces de Vegacervera gorge to Valporquero, where we can visit the wonderful caves famous for their stalactites, stalagmites, and outflows of fanciful shapes, as well as the impressive 100,000 m3 underground chamber called the Gran Rotonda. We will then return to the train to head towards Cistierna, where we will have dinner and spend the night.

Saturday: Cistierna - Espinosa de los Monteros. While enjoying breakfast, the train takes us to Guardo, in the Palencia region. From there the coach takes us to the Roman Villa of La Olmeda and its magnificent collection of mosaics. Discover some of the finest Romanesque art collections in Europe in the towns of Carrión de los Condes and Frómista, where we have lunch. After visiting the impressive San Martin temple and the Castilla Canal, we board the train once again to travel on to Sotoscueva and then visit Espinosa de los Monteros, a beautiful village in the Burgos area of Las Merindades, with dinner and an overnight stay in Espinosa.

Sunday: Espinosa de los Monteros - Bilbao. During breakfast this morning, take in the breath-taking views across the incredible landscape of the Mena Valley as the train heads towards Bilbao. Enjoy the city and a visit to the world-renowned Guggenheim museum. Free time, ending the trip at approximately 14:00.

Dates and Prices 2024

León to Bilbao: To follow

Cabin, per person

Double occupancy, before discount to follow

Single supplement, before discount to follow

Pilgrim Route / Peregrino Ruta

Oviedo, Ferrol, Santiago de Compostela, Oviedo

6 days/5 nights

Sunday: Oviedo - Viveiro. Check-in and baggage drop-off, 12:00hrs to 15:30hrs, at (Oviedo) underneath 'la Losa' (1st floor opposite the Metric Gauge Offices). 16:30hrs there is a guided tour of Oviedo, including the Cathedral and the Holy Chamber. Welcome toast on board the train, presentation of the crew and accommodation. Dinner is served on board, while the train heads for Galicia and Vivero, for the night. Dinner

Monday: Viveiro. Early arrival in Viveiro and breakfast buffet. After breakfast, transfer to Ferrol by coach for pilgrims who wish to walk the first stage, Ferrol – Pontedeume (26 Km.). For those who do not want to walk, coach ride to the northernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula, Cape Estaca de Bares. Then on to the Beach of Bares and O Barqueiro, with free time for lunch. In the afternoon, return to the train at Viveiro. Free time for dinner and static overnight on board in Viveiro. Breakfast

Tuesday: Viveiro - Ortigueira. During breakfast, the train travels to Ortigueira. From there, the pilgrims are taken by coach to Pontedeume for the second stage to Abegondo (31 Km). Non-walkers tour the Sanctuary of San Andrés de Teixido and Cedeira, with free time for lunch. In the afternoon, transfer to the train at Ortigueira. Free time for dinner and static overnight in Ortigueira. Breakfast

Wednesday: Ortigueira - Ferrol. While having breakfast, the train travels to Ferrol, then the pilgrims go by coach to Abegondo for the third stage to A Calle (25 Km). Non-walkers go to A Coruña on the coach, free time until lunch. In the afternoon, return to the train in Ferrol. Dinner at a typical Pulpería (Octopus restaurant). Static overnight in Ferrol. Breakfast, dinner

Thursday: Ferrol – Santiago de Compostela – Oviedo. After breakfast on board, pilgrims go by coach to A Calle for the final stage to Santiago de Compostela (27 Km.). Once in Santiago, free time until the afternoon. Non-walkers go by coach from Ferrol to Santiago de Compostela. Free time in Santiago. By late afternoon, all return to the train in Ferrol. Dinner on board. The train leaves for Oviedo. Overnight on board while moving. Breakfast, dinner

Friday: Oviedo. Early morning arrival in Oviedo. Breakfast on board and farewell to the crew and the train; journey ends around 11.00 hrs. Breakfast

Dates and Prices 2024

2023: to follow

Cabin, per person

Double occupancy, before discount to follow

Single supplement, before discount to follow

Payment Terms

Deposit payment 15% of total price to reserve

Balance payment 85% at least 15 days prior to departure

Cancellations Up to 30 days before departure: refund less 15% registration and guarantee fee. Between 30 and 15 days : less 25% of the total. Between 14 and 5 days: less 50% of the total. Between 4 and 1 day(s): less 80% of the total. Less than 24 hours or failure to turn up: No refund, 100% of the total is payable.

El Expreso de la Robla Private Hire / Charter

El Expreso de la Robla is available for private hire or exclusive charter for up to 54 passengers.

Use El Expreso de la Robla for business or pleasure trips, conferences, incentives, product presentations or or as a film / movie / TV location.

General Information

COVID - Renfe is this train's operator. They apply the Covid rules laid out by the Spanish Government.

Dress Code: comfortable day wear and comfortable shoes for walking, perhaps a rain coat depending on the time of year. Smart casual is recommended for the evenings.

Included: breakfasts with tea and coffee; lunches and dinners with wine, coffee, tea, and liqueurs; tour guide on board; organised excursions with entrance fees and multilingual guides; daily newspapers and magazines; free water; coach transport at each stop; bathrobes. Dining allowances differ for the Pilgrim Route.

Unforeseen events: itineraries, routes and times may change at any time for reasons outside the control of the train company. Every effort will be made by train staff to minimise any impact on your enjoyment of the journey; the Luxury Train Club however, cannot accept any responsibility for any changes. The Club aims to keep itineraries as up to date as possible.

Terms and Conditions: Go here for the Terms and Conditions of RENFE Viajeros sa, which owns and operates this train.

Deposit payment 15% of total price to reserve. Balance payment 85% at least 30 days prior to departure. In Euros: Prices per person.

Cancellations: You may cancel the reservation and be refunded, minus 15% of the total payable fare, as registration and reservation guarantee fee, which will increase as follows: Cancellation between 30 and 15 days: 25% of the total; Cancellation between 14 and 05 days: 50% of the total; Cancellation between 04 and 01 days: 80% of the total; Cancellation with less than 24 hours or failure to turn up: 100% of the total. You will be liable for any bank and currency costs incurred by us related to the refund to you.

Amendments: Changes are only allowed for the same season / year. Changes are free (except for €60 Club admin) if requested more than 120 days before the departure. Changes between 120 and 31 days in advance: 10% of the total. No changes are allowed on the date of the trip less than 31 days before the departure date. If, after changing the reservation, you cancel it, the expenses will be the 100% of the total.

Child Policy: Children up to 4 years old travel free but do so under the tutelage and full responsibility of an adult. They must always be covered by the adult travellers' travel insurance. Renfe allows children under 4 years of age to travel in the Suites, Rooms or Compartments of the Luxury Trains always accompanied by an adult and to make use of all the onboard services of the train. Any off the train expenses such as lunches, dinners, tickets and visits must be borne by the adult companion.

In double occupancy, the adult companion pays single supplement and travels with the child.

Children over 4 years old pay 100% of the adult price.

Unforeseen events/changes: itineraries, routes and times may change at any time for reasons outside the control of the train company. Every effort will be made by train staff to minimise any impact; the Luxury Train Club cannot accept any responsibility for any changes. The Club aims to keep itineraries as up to date as possible. Please note itineraries are as notified to us by Renfe.

Coronavirus Notice: Go here for general travel and health advice from governments, WHO and other organisations.

El Expreso de la Robla Reservations

Contact us to book EL Expreso de la Robla. All prices are at publicly-quoted rates. We deduct Club discount for Members.

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Train Tickets - Spain