Narrow-gauge railways in Spain

In Spain there is an extensive 1,984 km (1,233 mi) system of 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge railways. The majority of these railways were historically operated by FEVE, (Ferrocarriles de Vía Estrecha, narrow-gauge railways). Created in 1965, FEVE started absorbing numerous privately-owned narrow-gauge railways. From 1978 onwards, with the introduction of regionalisation devolution under the new Spanish constitution, FEVE began transferring responsibility for a number of its operations to the new regional governments, and was dissolved on 31 December 2012, handing the remaining narrow-gauge services to the other national operator Renfe.

In 2023 transport officials in RENFE in Spain resigned when it was found that narrow-gauge passenger rolling-stock ordered in 2020 for the northern regions of Asturias and Cantabria would be too wide for the tunnels and were to be redesigned with delays of a year or two in delivery.[1] This error stemmed from the loss of knowledge from the dissolution of FEVE, since Renfe did not integrate FEVE into its structure, rather keeping it as a separate subdivision called Renfe Feve. Following the oversized trains scandal, most Renfe Feve services were integrated into Renfe, with some left as of 2025.[2]

Northern Spain

In the north of the country, operated by Renfe and EuskoTren (Eusko Trenbideak, Basque Railways), is the longest narrow-gauge network in Europe. Its mainline is a metre-gauge line which runs for 650 km (404 mi) along the entire length of Spain's north coast, from Ferrol to Hendaye, and another one in the northern mountains from Aranguren to León.

Renfe operates the railway except from the Bilbao-Hendaye side. They offer regional trains between the capitals, as well as commuter rail services around them, and a tram-train in León.

EuskoTren is the Basque regional government rail company, which operates the line from Bilbao to Hendaye and metric-gauge trams and metro, started in 1995.

Andalusia

Castile–La Mancha

Catalonia

Barcelona

Gelida

Girona

Montserrat

Northern Catalonia

Valencian community

Castellón

Madrid

Majorca

  • SFM (Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca); 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
  • FS (Ferrocarril de Sóller) operates a 3 ft (914 mm) gauge electrified railway and connecting tramway, the Tranvía de Sóller.
  • Palma Metro; 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)

Murcia

See also

References

  1. ^ "Heads roll in- Spain over trains too wide for tunnels". Stuff/Fairfax. 2023.
  2. ^ Díaz, Ramón (2023-02-21). "Todo lo que pasó en la cumbre por el 'Fevemocho': lo que se acordó y lo que quedó sin aclarar" [All that happened in the meeting about the 'Fevegate': what was agreed upon and what remains unclear]. La Nueva España (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  3. ^ Rowe, D Trevor (1994). Narrow Gauge Railways of Spain Volume 2. Brighton: Plateway Press. p. 11. ISBN 1 871980 25 9.
  • Organ, John (2009). Eastern Spain Narrow Gauge: from Gerona to Málaga. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781906008567.
  • Organ, John (2010). Northern Spain Narrow Gauge: Irún to El Ferrol. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781906008833.
  • Organ, John (2011). Central and Southern Spain Narrow Gauge: Castile to Huelva. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781906008918.
  • Organ, John (2014). Majorca and Corsica Narrow Gauge. Narrow Gauge Branch Lines series. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 9781908174413.

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