Euskotren - Northern Spain's Scenic Intercity Train - Apparently a Trip Report

Don't succumb to the bus!
Thanks to my patrons: 4kshane, Aaron Uranus, Adam St German, Ade Vanzant, Adrian, Agustin Gomez Garachana, AJ Baxter, Alec Ajnsztajn, Alejandro Proskauer, Alex, Alex Dikelsky, Alex Price, Alexander Trout, Alexis Geddes, Allen Cavender, an engineer, Andrew Lafleur, Andrew Machina, andrew mullins, Andrew Saffrey, Andrew Schumacher, Andy Balonis, Angela D, Anthony Albence, aoumd, Artemis Mog, Artemis Tosini, Arthur Stephenson, Austin Brower, Autumn Bosco, Ava-Ivy Evergreen, B, Ben Cathers, Ben Gardy, Benjamin Blake, Benjamin Ledbetter, Benjamin Raizen, Bob Smyth, Brad Conicello, Bradley Gunn, Brendan Colvert, Brendan Gillepsy, Brendan Nystedt, Brendan Shea, Brent Fiore, Brian Cudiamat, Bryce, bsquiklehausen, buncharted, ByteOctopus, Caleb Holguin, Camren Fields, Carl Freyer, Carter J., Chris Blanton, Chris Silvia, Christian Hanka, Christopher Horsfall, Christopher Meler, Claudio Bickel, CR, Curtis Stuart, Damian L, Damian Reyes, Daniel Cooney, Daniel Crawford, Daniel H, Daniel Ripley, Danny Anderson, Darrin Martone, David, David Fortunato, David Jarvis, David Lloyd, Dani Baronofsky, Delaney Neal, Deo_1776, Dill The Wild Doge, Dmitri Glover, Dominik, Doug Jones, Douglas Newman, Draco137, DrewC, Dr. Matt Lee, Dylan Giles, Edwin Ortiz, Eli Miller, eliot, Eliot Chase, Elise MacDonald, Elliot Hunker, emily, Eric Perlman, Eric Rivas, Erwin A Paxtor, Ethan Winer, ev, eyy, FailingSystems, Felix Mo, Felx Schwerdtfeger, Flippy, Francis, fusorx, Gabriel Brunswick, George Schneeloch, Gerald Sneeringer, Graham Campbell, Grant Levene, Hai, Hal Tepfer, Hannah Graham, Hannah Heinicke, Harrison Leong, Harvey Logan, HJD.transit, Hugo Boyce, Ian Westcott, icewind, Ilan Cardenas-Silverstein, ilikeplanes, I'm Kevin Durant, Jack, Jack Tat, Jack Turner, Jack Wager, Jacob Springle, Jacob Wasserman, Jake C, Jake F., Jalen Jiang, James Alexander, James Lloyd, James Robertson, James Sleeman, Jason, Jason Rabinowitz, Jason Seiple, Jeb Rach, Jeremy Zorek, jimble, Joe Dizenhuz, John Duong, John R, John Ringer, John Starkel, Jon, Jon Ross, Jordan Happ, Jordan King, Josephine Stokes, Josh Harrison, Josh Powell, Joshua Barcenas, Joshua S Horvath, Jules Wang, Just Jamie, Kapil, Kenneth Liu, Kenny Kang, Kevin, Kevin, Kevin Bing, Kevin Fong, Kevin Mathers, Kian, Kieran Kentley, knope2001, Kyle Hubley, Kyle Olson, Kyle Rapp, Lillian M., luca009 // l9, Lucie Citko, Luke Weatherford, Marcel Marchon, Maria DeVoto, Marissa, mark yastion, Matt Carnavos, Matt Goldman, Matt Wehner, Matthew Barry, Matthew Clarke, Matthew Dezii, Matthew Galenas, Matthew Jones, Matthew Wells, MeaLynk, Mergatroid, Micah Craig, Michael Gruar (Chappington), Michael Smith, Miles Jajich, Mike S, Mike Stanley, Minghao Chen, Murray Jaffe, Mustard, Nate Tangsurat, Nick Clifford, Nick Lund, Nick M, Noel, NYC Jonah K, Ocean Shen, Oliver Alaheino, Orion, Patio, Paul Rivera, PDX Productions, Peyton Lamb, Piero Maddaleni, Philip Salen, PNWtransit, Quincy, Railrunner, ralph landeros, Ramon Gamez, Randy Glenn, RatbagSteve, Ray Black, Ray Ulrich, Rebecca Mundschenk, Reid Fisher, Reuben Thompson, Richard Whittaker, Rita Hao, Robert Brooks, Robert de Grouchy, Ryan James, Ryan Keefe, Sage, Sam, Sam Hebert, Sam L, Samuel Conklin, Sanjith Venkatesh, Scott Fox, Scott McMillon, Scotty Lewandowski, Scotty Pidgeon, Scribbl3, Sean, shortypowers, Shugnussy, Simon Berghammer, Simon F., Simon Xu, Stefanie, Stephen Keever, Steve Scott, Stormy Kara, Sykes St., Symmetry, T C, Taitset, Tang, Tanner Dupre, Tejas Narayan, Tim Hull, TheMan, Thomas, Thomas Alfred Roell, Thomas Burke, Thomas May, Thomas Malthouse, Tris Emmy Wilson, Toronto Transit Channel, Tyler Mills, Warlord324, Will Tung, William, William Amara, William Harney, William Wyckoff, and Wilson Calvert!
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[@GaigeGrosskreutzGunClub]

"if you're still suffering from Greyhound PTSD, take the train"

[@osasunaitor]

Euskotren lines are not devised as intercity services, more like regional lines connecting the towns between cities that double as metro inside the cities themselves. Hence the basic style of the train. Hardly anyone besides tourists uses this train to cover the whole Donostia/S.Sebastián to Bilbao route At some points in time Euskotren used to run direct D/SS-Bilbao services with true intercity trains (such as the old Series 3500), but the travel times were not competitive enough in a narrow gauge line with low speeds, and they were gradually discarded

[@angelgames9351]

There’s a “worse” “intercity” metric gauge train in Spain: the Bilbao-Leon FEVE, if I remember correctly it takes around 8 hours to cover the 230km. I’ve never taken either but FEVE is more scenic because it deeper into the Cantabric mountain chain (and it’s the Spanish railway that ordered the trains that were too big for tunnels). The whole north is served by FEVE and euskotren, while there are scenic metre gauge regional routes in Catalonia, Alicante and Murcia.

[@hermenegildoc3933]

Mi Zaragoza favorito

[@manuelbonet]

There are also iberian and standard gauge tracks going to the North of Spain, however they are mostly radial towards Madrid

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Come for the trip report, stay for the brief *S H E E P* at 3:59. Yeah, if you're gonna run a long train between Bilbao and San Sebastian, you might as well add luggage racks if you're gonna go the extra mile to add a bathroom. But hey, at least it's only 6.5 Euros, which is an amazing deal for a 100 km ride...LIRR would never. The old railcar at 4:31 is a Euskotren 3150 series. Originally built in the 1960s by Ferrocarriles Vascongados. Although the series was retired in 1997, that specific one you saw, train 3151, was converted into a TRACK GEOMETRY CAR in 1999 and called Trenbiker! It's been operated by infrastructure manager Euskal Trenbide Sarea (Basque Railway Network) since 2006!

[@tim333y7]

Cool video, once the basque Y opens the high speed train will do this trip in slightly over half an hour so only then a lot of people will start to switch to the train probably

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

"I'm just good at the game!" "HAHA, NO YOU'RE NOT" The shade...but that's when you know your mom is great, but a good parent is a brutally honest one! So Zazpikaleak at 1:13 means "Seven Streets" and it comes from the neighborhood's 7 ancient thoroughfares, which still exist today: Somera, Artekale, Tendería, Belostikale, Carnicería Vieja, Barrenkale and Barrenkale Barrena. While at 5:06, Kukullaga means cuckoo, and Etxebarri means "new home" (etxe = home; barri = new). Etxebarri used to have a longer name as "Etxebarri, Doneztebeko Elizatea" (Doneztebeko Elizatea = Church of St. John the Baptist) but this was changed in 2005 to simplify it. Heck, before Standard Basque was introduced in the 1970s, it was spelt Echevarri.

[@SkullSoc1ety]

HERRO!

[@Appleanche5]

I took the train simply because I took too long to book the bus and the time period I wanted was booked. Easily one of the little highlights of the trip! Nobody talked about the scenery and there was little KZbin info on it. I’m glad your highlighting it and I’m also glad I took it otherwise I might be a little jealous.

[@MilesinTransit]

hi

[@Appleanche5]

@@MilesinTransit kaixo

[@MilesinTransit]

Oh weird, that was supposed to be a reply to a different comment! But thank you for the kind words, and I'm glad there's something out there about the train now!

[@raidensergi2378]

​@@MilesinTransit As a Basque this train was made to Connect the Two northern capital cities of basque Country but through all the basque villages. The high speed train route are going to be made to Connect faster the Two northern basque capital cities.

[@kzooaviation]

Love that intro

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@NickBurman]

Unfortunately you are a few decades late on this trip... once upon a time ET's predecessor Ferrocarriles Vascongados used to run a passenger service between Bilbao and San Sebastian which included "Pullman" coaches. These (which were in fact parlor and parlor-buffet cars) were originally built in the UK by Leeds Forge Co. and were were some of the most luxurious vehicles of their kind in the whole of Europe.

[@oldiaul]

Now we know that Mom In Transit's starting word is URINE

[@seanh2286]

Thanks, Miles' mom, for reminding me to get cracking on Wordle!

[@irishboy06]

4:48 Correction: It's a Biscayan commuter line. Not just Bilbao. It goes all the way to Bermeo in the north of Biscay. Beautiful town, worth a visit. And that train line there is also lovely.

[@gabrielboisvert7306]

The Bermeo line also stops in Gernika, which the Nazis bombed at Franco's request and inspired Picasso's La Guernica. Definitely worth a visit to their museum.

[@irishboy06]

@@gabrielboisvert7306 yeah, I visited the famous tree a few months ago

[@irishboy06]

@@gabrielboisvert7306 I saw a big Gernika painting there painted by Ukrainian refugee kids.

[@andrewinnj]

Words that rhyme with "apparently" and that could replace its first usage in your intro without dramatically altering the meaning: presently, 'sin-sair-i-ly,' transparently... 😘 Always envious of your European travels with your parents. My parents a) would've left me at home and b) would've embarrassed me to death before the train doors even closed even if they did bring me along.

[@MilesinTransit]

The repeat usage of the word "apparently" is a device meant to highlight the intrigue of calling a series "apparently" anything - if it's *apparently* too late to abort, then I guess it's *apparently* a trip report!

[@andrewinnj]

@@MilesinTransit I understand it more with that additional context. Rhyming a word with itself sticks out to my ears but you've accounted for that, and taken well-earned creative license. I love your trip reports and the catchy tune, apparently.

[@shreychaudhary4477]

>once every hour, no assigned seats, just show up and buy and get on your train I hope this is how CAHSR will be a decade from now

[@richard-mtl]

Loved the opening song, and yes, always take the train, even if bus is faster! You did well.

[@MilesinTransit]

Thank you!

[@ClassyWhale]

I WAS ABOUT TO SUGGEST DONOR!!! Great minds think alike 😂

[@shreychaudhary4477]

I've watched this channel so much that I keep typoing "great minds think alike" as "great Miles think alike" 😭

[@AL5520]

The completion of the high speed line is slow but it is nearing the end. The Y, as it's called, will connect the 3 main cities (Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastian) with a Y shape tracks and out to the rest of Spain through Vitoria. Euskotren plans to operate a connect between all 3 cities with local high speed trains promising fares of 8€ to 12€. The high sped line will open in stages and should be fully operational by 2027.

[@PabloBD]

Hola Miles! Me gustan tus videos en España

[@MilesinTransit]

Gracias Pablo!

[@radjago]

6:08 🎉🎉🎉 Trolleybuses! 🎉🎉🎉

[@MilesinTransit]

Someday...

[@davidsixtwo]

So many travel guides are so skeptical of trains even in Europe. I don't hate the bus at all, but if the train is a similar option on price, I'd almost always prefer the extra space and better scenery.

[@philiproszak1678]

Looks awesome

[@jamess8504]

Intersting train... its almost exactly like a intercity subway... but with a bathroom... and with seating created to torture introverts... lol

[@lamegaming9835]

no miles dont eat me awesome video tho! the train at 4:33 is an Euskotren 3150 series

[@LouisOnAir]

Nice, I guess this will be a 2-for-1 because all the Euskotren lines run through the met- oh, never mind

[@MilesinTransit]

Next time, next time!

[@trainandmore]

The question is, would the bus have been more baggage friendly?

[@irishboy06]

Way more.

[@CityWhisperer]

Sadly yes. As not much people really go for the 2h30min ride from Donostia to Bilbao, the trains are not even suited for long journeys, rather shorter intermediate stops. At the end of the day it's a regional line connecting towns.

[@stephenkeever6029]

That backlog looks exciting!

[@senorspahrtan]

“SHEEP!” 🤣🤣

[@Ethan93256]

hi miles 😘

[@MilesinTransit]

hi

[@Atreide212]

Lol you missed Deba

[@MilesinTransit]

Can't show every stop!

[@Antizyr]

Wait you were at my Bilbao? That's my home city! Anyway, as you said it's definitely not the speediest way to travel between the two cities. I've always thought of that line as something to go to and from the towns between Bilbao and San Sebastián, not necessarily from one city to the other. That will be covered by the Basque Y which will hopefully open soon. (Also I have to say you completely butchered that pronunciation at 5:06 not judging you, just saying it did hurt to hear lmao)

[@MilesinTransit]

You're allowed to judge, my Basque Country pronunciation is TERRIBLE! ;)

[@condor237]

Lol nice song

[@MilesinTransit]

Thanks!

[@GimmeASitrep]

Did you take the Bilbao Metro?

[@MilesinTransit]

Stay tuned!

[@StLouis-yu9iz]

No I am not Regis. lol

[@MilesinTransit]

Phew!

[@joshuagomera4866]

First