Missing Timetable Data
For years, Hendaia – Irun (Euskotren) was a cross border absurdity – a reasonable service every half hour, but unless you knew where to look you could not find the train even existed – its timetables did not show in international timetable searches such as DB and ÖBB Scotty. Now, finally, the problem has been solved – put a connection like Biarritz to San Sebastian into a DB search and it now works.
Dozens of railway campaigners, and a couple of companies as well, have been involved in solving this one – and indeed the public pressure I have helped to build though the #CrossBorderRail campaign has likely helped in a small way as well.
What was done: Euskotren data is – as of late April 2024 – in UIC Merits and the problem is solved.
There are still data problems at two France-Spain borders – Latour-de-Carol – Enveitg – Puigcerdà and Cerbère – Portbou – you can find out about those here.
European Commission Analysis
In 2018 the European Commission published its “Comprehensive analysis of the existing cross-border rail transport connections and missing links on the internal EU borders”. The main report (74 pages, PDF) summarises the issues, and Annex 3 of the report (384 pages, PDF) analysed every single border.
For the sake of simplicity, I have made a PDF just of the relevant pages of Annex 3 that cover the 3 relevant France-Spain borders – you can find that PDF here.
Photos from this locations
