Toulouse to Barcelona by slow train through the Pyrenees

[@2eleven48]

A long, long time ago - when I was still young man - I took a train from Barcelona to Aix Les Thermes in France. It wasn't a train as such, but a kind of subway-styled coach with arching windows. I'd never experienced such a journey: the sudden fogs, the deep valleys and the Pyrenees looming ahead, coming nearer and nearer, and the air getting colder, and then vaulting up into the mountains, by-passing Andorra, surrounded by wet dark trees and a narrow pathway tunnelling us though, and then finally dipping down into the plains of France. A truly astonishing memorable journey.

[@pravdr1]

Such journeys remain etched in memory forever

[@pedronovoa3012]

En 2002 hice este trayecto desde Toulouse a Barcelona y se demoro 6 hrs. Recuerdo que una vez en España tuvimos que bajarnos del tren y seguir en bus y despues nuevamente seguir en tren. De vuelta seguimos otra ruta por Narbona, Carcasonne. Este viaje lo hice un fin de semana desde Toulouse donde estaba haciendo una pasantia para profesores de Historia en IUFM. Saludos desde Chile.

[@blitznitz]

We did this ride last month after having watched your video, and it was absolutely beautiful. Thank you !

[@tijuanagringo]

What a pleasant experience, just sitting here and watching your video. Thanks!

[@hf5086]

So the trains pass right through the Pyrenees? Amazing!

[@kristy77a]

I've been to Puigcerda and environs! Stayed two nights in Bolvir de Cerdanya during October a dozen years ago and daytripped into that funny Spanish enclave, Llivia. Gorgeous country. Nice to visit again via your video, thanks.

[@asiscivies3377]

Bellver de Cerdanya.

[@kristy77a]

@@asiscivies3377 Thanks (Gracias)

[@asiscivies3377]

@@kristy77a If you need information answer, please!

[@SabotsLibres]

You forgot to mention that between the Tunnel de Puymorens and Porta, it is the steepest mainline, standard gauge gradient and that the station at Porté-Puymorens is the highest standard gauge station in Europe

[@bushyconn]

W hat a wonderful slow journey. A real change from the fast trains of Europe. You have cast and slow trains, we here in Australia just have slow --- and slower trains.

[@annabelsimms253]

Very low-key and enticing video! So glad you didn't voice a commentary and let the journey speak for itself.

[@reb-xu9di]

Mark, have you tried the other Pyrenees "crossing" from Pau via Oloron Ste. Marie to Bedous. Thence by connecting bus (rail tickets valid) to Canfranc International from the RENFE service via Huesca to Saragosse.

[@muelheimereisenbahn]

The Paris - Latour de Carol is the last overnight oportunity to Barcelonam after withdrawl of Talgo-Service. It is even not the worst alternative: the regional connection to Barcelona Sants stops in central-most-station "Placa Catalunya"

[@SoumyaChowdhury24081995]

I am yet to understand which of the two trains were slow

[@amtrakharry]

Great video Mark! :D

[@4ndr_s]

There would be any possibility of problems if I go there by the last weeks of January? (2017) IDK, like heavy snow in the roads or something like that. I'm from south america where railway system almost doesn't exist, so don't know if that kind of problems happens in france-spain

[@seat61]

Shouldn't be any problem.

[@josephshields2922]

The Interior looks like a subway car. Where are the elegant rail Cars of yesterday?

[@maritsaperdikou5083]

They are for the Rich and famous costing thousands of pounds, I know because I thought the same

[@shoaibhanif7433]

Great job mark

[@Kjevois]

I did this travel too 😍😍

[@kavitaredkar3419]

Nice journey vid

[@wkaemena]

The approach to Barcelona is completely destroyed by highways for cars in order to facilitate the access to the next traffic jam in the city....inhuman humanity....

[@tjumanta2832]

Willy Kaemena di

[@malo66]

What self-evident nonsense that could be written about riding into any major conurbation.

[@darrenleroy]

If you type in Toulouse to Barcelona on Loco2 it doesn't give you any journeys via Latour de Carol. Even if you say you want to go via Latour de Carol!

[@seat61]

+Darren Halford of course not. But easy enough if you follow my instructions.

[@darrenleroy]

+Mark Smith (The Man in Seat 61) Yeah, I did that and it worked. It's a bit poor that Loco2 doesn't give you that option though.

[@seat61]

+Darren Halford They can't. The Latour to Barcelona train is a local where you pay on board, it's not in the Renfe ticketing system.

[@rozannequintero5753]

what month was this filmed?

[@LisaMarli]

I wish you could link to the video about the first part of the trip. This video is so old, finding the companion is difficult.

[@seat61]

Eh? What first part of the trip? This video is perfectly current - neither stations nor trains nor scenery have changed!

[@LisaMarli]

Mark Smith The Paris to Toulouse part. But never mind, I kept going back until I found what you had run on the night trains. I do love the mountains here. Thanks for doing it during the day.

[@diegosapunaru]

can't wait for direct train barcelona - geneve ... do u think in a near future there will be a direct train barcelona - london?

[@TheWallygord]

Diego Gomez There’s the EuroStar to Paris from London then a high speed to Barcelona.

[@Paul78bcn]

La Tor de Querol-Enveig station is THIRD WORLD

[@testiclestoshirleycles5755]

nice

[@asiscivies3377]

How much time you needs to do the travel?

[@maritsaperdikou5083]

It says about 7 hour

[@Apersononline11]

Hey Mark, what about the train from 'Paris-Austerlitz ---- Toulouse Matabiau. Then, from Toulouse Matabiau to Barcelona Sants.' direct. Is it on the same scenic route/rail?

[@barvdw]

+Matthew Andraos No. There is a TGV service from Toulouse to Barcelona, but it runs along the coast, past Carcassonne, Narbonne and Perpignan. The Spanish line is suburban service only (even if it's a long ride). Too bad the French trains don't continue to Puigcerdà, Latour is a village, Puigcerdà a small town.

[@reb-xu9di]

I did the journey in reverse from Barcelona to Puigcerda (overnight) then Latour to Toulouse the next day. I didn't fancy the tight connection from the Spanish to French trains so just walked between the stations. It did not take long and gave me time to visit Latour village - very quaint.

[@iainmacantailleir352]

@@barvdw I think the gauges differ between French and Spanish railways. In fact, I think three different gauges all meet up at Latour de Carol. But I agree - it would be useful if the trains from Toulouse continued on to Puigcerdà.

[@barvdw]

@@iainmacantailleir352 between Puigcerda and Latour, there's both standard gauge and Iberian broad gauge, so trains can cross the border from both sides to the next station. Today, Spanish trains continue to Latour-de-Carol, but Puigcerda is the biggest of the two, so the reverse is better.

[@iainmacantailleir352]

@@barvdw Thanks. I didn't realise standard gauge extended down to Puigcerdà. It would be far better for the French trains to continue on the few kilometres to Puigcerdà, as that might give better access and increased services between Barcelona and the French side.

[@samuellerman-hahn650]

You could always just take the direct train to Latour de Carol instead of going to Toulouse.

[@seat61]

Conscious decision not to. Would have, if it was summer. As it was December, I wouldn't see anything in the dark, so took Paris-Toulosue sleeper then TER, to see whole route in daylight.

[@jackiemcmahon6160]

Here is a snippet of the actual train trip from Toulouse to Barcelona

[@mmt44y]

How did you purchase the tickets for this journey?

[@seat61]

Loco2.com for Paris-Toulouse-Latour de Carol. Latour to Barcelona you can only buy on the train from the conductor.

[@marcosweinrich8759]

mmt44y knjJajajajakkkJJJ

[@darrenleroy]

I caught the train from Barcelona to Agen today. Unfortunately it didn't go over the Pyrenees but instead went to Perpignan then Narbonne. I had to change there to get the train to Bordeaux via Toulouse and Agen. Boring journey in comparison.

[@MufcRonan]

How long is the Latour De Carol - Barcelona service?

[@WidescreenContent]

3hrs - you can check times here www.renfe.com/EN/viajeros/cercanias/barcelona/index.html

[@diegomatamoros3940]

@@WidescreenContentnow i understand why the line is the R3 (joking😭)

[@titteryenot4524]

All of Europe’s a night-train/And all the men and women merely passengers/They have their Brexits and their Schengen Areas/And one man in his couchette smells many farts/His trips covering different gauges/At first the teenager/Hungover and puking in his best mate’s arms/And then the whining young man, with rucksack/And bleary morning face/And then the husband/Sighing with sternness/And a where’s my passport?/Made to his wife’s eyeball/The Spanish gauge shifts into green and considered Irun/The spectacle of those/With Euros well saved/Last train of all/That bookends this changing, scentful mystery/Is second-class and near-Bolivian/Sans tea, sans pies, sans haste, sans air spring.