Fay says, “This special little train meanders through the picturesque countryside and coast of either Galicia or Castilla and Leon, stopping for guided tours of the surrounds and overnight; two great value 4-day tours in a train which also has private bathrooms for all suites!” 

El Expreso de la Robla is a wonderful air-conditioned vintage train from which you can discover the north of Spain, travelling from Bilbao to either Gijón or León, sampling the traditions and glamour of the El Transcantábrico route.  These two differing routes both take four days and three nights and offer 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 are waiting 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, creating an atmosphere redolent of traditional Spain.

At night the train is stationary at stations, which enables passengers to have a peaceful night’s sleep after an evening enjoying the local cuisine and nightlife of each town.  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.

Special Offers

Membership is free, requiring just a subscription to our newsletter on the Club site.  Gifts secured when booking made, and sent on final payment.

-             Ask for any available discounts

-             Until 31 May:  Gift from Osprey,  from their range of small leather goods.

Accommodation

Suites:  Each suite has upper and lower berths, wardrobe, luggage carrier, reading light, air conditioning, stereo and telephone, and are en-suite with a hydro massage shower, wash basin and toilet. 

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.

La Robla Itinerary

 Bilbao to Bilbao, overnighting in Vado-Cervera, San Feliz,  Espinosa de los Monteros.

Thursday – Bilbao - Espinosa de Los Monteros - Vado Cervera.     Join the train at Bilbao FEVE station from 13.30hrs, and settle into your accommodation  before wandering along to the lounge, as the train leaves at 15.45hrs.  Upon arrival at  Espinosa de los Monteros,  guests take the coach to visit the amazing  Karstic Complex of Ojo de Guareña in Sotoscueva, the largest cave collection of the Iberian Peninsula and among the ten largest in the whole world.  Here there is the church of St Barnabas with beautiful ceiling paintings. Back on the train we travel to  Sotoscueva to visit the Parador of  Cervera de Pisuerga, At  Vado-Cervera the train remains in the station for the night, as guests dine at the Parador of Fuentes Carrionas and explore the town of  Vado-Cervera.

Friday –  Vado Cervera - Matallana – León –  San Feliz.     Whilst enjoying breakfast, the train arrives at Matallana.   A coach then takes guests to the amazing  Caves of Valporquero, famous for its stalactites, stalagmites and fantastic shapes.  Back on the train we travel to San Feliz and then by coach to Leon, a city founded by the Romans and steeped in art and culture. Following  visits  to the Cathedral, San Isidoro, Old quarters and San Marcos, dinner is served in the famous wine caves of Prieto Picudo before returning to the train for the night.

Saturday  -  San Feliz - Guardo – Carrión de Los Condes – Frómista - Mataporquera – Espinosa de Los Monteros.     While having breakfast on board, the train arrives in  Guardo where the coach takes guests to Palencia.  This is home to some outstanding examples of Romanesque Art.  This historic heritage is best seen as we travel part of  the Way of Saint James ‘El Camino de Santiago’, through the towns of Carrion de los Condes, Fromista (for lunch), and  Villalcazar de Sirga.  Later we  depart from Mataporquera toward Espinosa de los Monteros, a town that was destroyed in the early 11^th century, and is now home to the ancient Royal Guard of the “Gentlemen of the Chamber” since its founding in 1008.

Sunday  -  Espinosa de Los Monteros - Medina del Pomar –  Balmaseda - Bilbao.    Enjoy the scenery over breakfast  as the train approaches the cities of Espinosa de los Monteros and Medina de Pomar with their remarkable monuments such as the Alcazar de los Condestables and its Old Quarters.  Afterwards we travel to Balmaseda where there is a  visit to the famous berets factory, Boinas La Encartada.  Here guests enjoy a typical regional  lunch. Finally we travel by train to Bilbao, the end of our journey.

Dates and Prices

2013 – March 21, 28 (Special Easter).   April 4, 11, 18, 25.    May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.    June 6, 13, 20, 27.    September 5, 12, 19, 26.    October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31.

Booking, in advance             6+ months      4-6months      less than 4 months

Double Suite, per person

Double                                                    €800                 €850                         €900

Single supplement                             €200                 €250                         €300

2014  -  March 27.  April 3, 10, 17, 24.  May 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.  June 5, 12, 19.  September 11, 18, 25.  October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30.  November 6, 13.

Booking, in advance             6+ months      4-6months      less than 4 months

Double Suite, per person

Double                                                    €850                 €900                         €950

Single supplement                             €300                 €300                         €300

Paraiso Infinito Itinerary

Bilbao to Bilbao, overnighting in  Torrelavega, Ribadesella and  Llanes.

Thursday  -  Bilbao-Carranza-Torrelavega.  Arrive at Bilbao station (La Concordia) for a reception from 13.30hrs onwards, before joining the train prior to departure at 15.30hrs.  Settle in to your accommodation before wandering along to the lounge to relax and watch the wonderful scenery pass as we  head west through the rugged terrain, arriving at Carranza.  The waiting coach takes us to the Fauna Theme Park, a fantastic conservation sanctuary that provides a refuge for many different wild animals.  After time to explore the park and its Colonial House, we return to the train and continue to charming Torrelavega, with its beautiful plazas and streets.  Here we overnight after a dinner in the town.

Friday  -  Torrelavega-Unquera-Ribadesella.  Enjoy breakfast as the train travels to Unquera, where the waiting bus takes us to La Liébana, which can only be reached via the steep-sided ravine of La Hermida, a spectacular gorge cut through the glorious Picos de Europa mountains.  Here the four verdant valleys converge on Potes.   This historical town dates back to the 8^th century and is a maze of alleys and steps, creating a medieval atmosphere.   Following a visit to Fuente Dé  we go to the 6^th century monastery of Santo Toribio, which is one of the five places of Christianity that, together with Rome, Jerusalem, Santiago de Compostela and Caravaca de la Cruz, has the privilege of perpetual indulgences.  Following lunch in a local restaurant, we return to the train for a scenic journey along the coast to the seaside town of Ribadesella, a beautiful port and fishing village in the Asturias region.  Here we have dinner and overnight.

Saturday  -  Ribadesella-Gijón-Llanes.  Whilst having breakfast the train travels to Gijón where we have a tour of this beautiful port city.  Back on the train we travel to Nava, to visit  the museum of Nava Cider,  that showcases the Asturian national drink, cider.   After the visit lunch is served  in a “Llagar” where you can taste the typical Asturian cuisine.  In the afternoon, the train takes us  from Infiesto to Llanes, a fishing village where parts of the surviving town walls date back to 1206.  This pretty town is where we have dinner and overnight.

Sunday  -  Llanes-Santander-Bilbao.   After breakfast we arrive in Santander, where the coach will take us to Santoña,  The history of Santoña has always been linked to the sea, to such an extent that it is the Cantabrian’s major canning port.  Its industry is based above all on the commercialisation of tuna and its famous anchovies in olive oil.  After visiting the canning factory, we have a boat  trip along the coast to the historical Puebla Vieja de Laredo where luncheon is taken in a local restaurant.  The train is waiting in Ampuero to take us to Bilbao, arriving early evening and the end of our journey.

Dates and Prices

2013  -   July 4, 11, 18, 25.   August 1, 8, 15, 22,29.

Booking, in advance             6+ months      4-6 months      less than 4 months

Double Suite, per person

Double                                                    €800                 €850                         €900

Single supplement                             €200                 €250                         €300

2014  -  June 26.   July 3,10,17,24,31.   August 7,14,21,28.   September 4.

Booking, in advance             6+ months      4-6 months      less than 4 months

Double Suite, per person

Double                                                    €850                 €900                         €950

Single supplement                             €300                 €300                         €300

Payment Terms

Deposit payment                   40% of total price to reserve

Balance payment                   60% at least 15 days prior to departure

In Euros; payment is preferred in Euros but can be accepted in GBP or USD at prevailing exchange rate at time of invoicing (charges apply, ask for details). Prices per person and include tax.

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.

Unforeseen events:               The itineraries may be subject to modifications for reasons outside the control of the organiser or as a result of problems which may cause changes in the operation of the network on which circulate the Tourist Trains.  In these cases, the organisers will adopt the necessary solutions to continue with the trip, without any extra cost to passengers.  If passengers continue the trip under the new circumstances, they tacitly accept the solutions proposed “Luxury Tourist Trains 2013”.

General Information

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:  Three nights’ accommodation on board the train;  three dinners and three lunches featuring the local cuisine (including wine and coffee) and three  buffet breakfasts on board the train; organised trips with visits and transport; multilingual guide

Booking & Reservations

All prices are at publicly-quoted rates.

We will be happy to answer any questions and make the booking for you  -  contact us in the UK : +44 (0)1249 890205 or info@luxurytrainclub.com      Please sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed of interesting trains and special offers.