TRAVEL
Originally published on Monday, 26 January 2009
All Aboard
The first time I used a Renfe overnight service, I thought that it might be fun, something like a modern day Orient Express or Trans-Siberian railway adventure. That illusion was quickly put to rest as I entered my Gran Clase cabin, which was neither Gran or with Clase.
The design might have been cutting edge when it was introduced, but perhaps people were smaller then or just less demanding. And without luggage that needed to be stowed away, unless that's what the miniscule shower cabin was meant to be used for.
Times change, though, and today Renfe is putting its new Talgo Trenhotel into service between Barcelona and A Coruña, with larger beds, flat screens, and more luggage space as some of the novelties.
They've also cut the travel time for this journey by two hours, although at 14 hours, it'd probably be faster to fly to Singapore for chili crabs than to make this cross-country trek for percebes. But with prices starting at just 39 euros, we might actually be tempted to give the iron horse another chance.
Renfe Trenhotel Barcelona-A Coruña - from January 26
Departure from Barcelona 20:50h, from A Coruña 18:05h
One-way from EUR 50.30 in Gran Clase, from EUR 39 in sleeper (promotional web fare)
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