Irun_1.jpg (39574 bytes)

Main station of Irun (West End). Actually, this building mostly caters for Spanish domestic traffic. International passengers use another, larger building, viz. Estación Internacional-Nazioarteko Geltoki (further left, off-pic). Irun 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_2.jpg (54636 bytes)

Main station of Irun (North End), seen from Paseo de Colon (Eusko Tren station of Irun-Colon within walking distance). All these tracks underneath (1-6, with 7-10 off-pic) form the Spanish sector (1668mm-3kV DC). Further left stands Estación Internacional-Nazioarteko Geltoki, viz. the building where passengers arriving from France go through, prior to boarding RENFE services. Irun (Spanish sector). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_3.jpg (53359 bytes)

Station of Irun (North End), seen from Paseo de Colon (Eusko Tren station of Irun-Colon within walking distance). The 2 tracks closest to the building (11-12) form the French sector (1435mm-1.5kV DC). The building further right is Estación Internacional-Nazioarteko Geltoki, where passengers arriving from France go through, prior to boarding RENFE services. The 2 tracks further left (14-16) are built to Iberic standards (1668mm-3kV DC), hence these blue overhead signs, which warn against a voltage-crossing (1.5kV-3kV DC). Irun (French sector). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_4.jpg (50674 bytes)

Station of Irun (North End), seen from Paseo de Colon. Irun. 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_5.jpg (57314 bytes)

Station of Irun (East End). These 2 tracks further left (11-12) form the French sector (1435mm-1.5kV DC), where services from France terminate. Upon arrival, International passengers go through that building further left, where Immigration and Customs checks were due in pre-Schengen days. Irun, Estación Internacional-Nazioarteko Geltoki (French sector). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_5a.jpg (41853 bytes)

Interior of Estación Internacional/Nazioarteko Geltoki. Until the late-90s, passengers arriving from France would enter this building at its south end, then go through the Customs room (opposite, off-pic), and finally reach the Transit concourse using this corridor. As in Portbou, the Customs area was eventually closed, and passengers from France now enter the Transit concourse using a more direct route. Irún, Estación Internacional/Nazioarteko Geltoki. 14th August 2006. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

Irun_5b.jpg (50496 bytes)

Interior of Estación Internacional/Nazioarteko Geltoki. Corridor connecting the former Customs area with the Transit concourse. Irún, Estación Internacional/Nazioarteko Geltoki. 14th August 2006. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

Irun_5c.jpg (43756 bytes)

Interior of Estación Internacional/Nazioarteko Geltoki. Transit concourse, with directions in Castilian, Basque and French. Irún, Estación Internacional/Nazioarteko Geltoki. 14th August 2006. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

Irun_6.jpg (61244 bytes)

Station of Irun (East End). This is the French sector (Tracks 11-12; 1435mm-1.5kV DC). Accross this outdated barrier (by Schengen standards), one can spot a Talgo III formation, on Track 7 (Spanish sector). This is Talgo 200 to Madrid-Chamartín, connecting with TGV 5201/0 (from Lille-Europe) and TGV 8515 (from Paris-Montparnasse). Irun, Estación Internacional-Nazioarteko Geltoki (French sector). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_7.jpg (66781 bytes)

Station of Irun (South End). This is the French sector (Tracks 11-12; 1435mm-1.5kV DC). Talgo 200 awaits departure to Madrid-Chamartín, on Track 7 (Spanish sector; 1668mm-3kV DC). Irun, Estación Internacional-Nazioarteko Geltoki (French sector). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_8.jpg (59292 bytes)

Station of Irun (South End). This is the Spanish (Tracks 1-10; 1668mm-3kV DC). Talgo 200 to Madrid-Chamartín awaits departure on Track 7. As a rule of thumb, RENFE-GL services leave from Tracks 6-7, so as to ensure a smooth transfer from SNCF services. Services operated by RENFE-Cercanías (to/from Brinkola) and RENFE-Regionales (to/from Vitoria-Gasteiz) are accommodated closer to the Domestic station building (Tracks 1-3, further left). Irun, Estación Internacional-Nazioarteko Geltoki (Spanish sector). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_Plaiaundi_1.jpg (55611 bytes)

North end of Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi, between the stations of Hendaye and Irun, just South of the Bidassoa river, which marks the border between France and Spain. • Right: Fleet Management Unit (RENFE-GL), where conventional cars used on most Diurno and Estrella services to/from Hendaye/Irun are based; • Middle: conventional cars (RENFE-GL), mainly Class 9000, seemingly idle for some time; • Left: Talgo gauge-changer which has accommodated the Paris <-> Madrid Sleeper Talgo since 31st May 1981. The smaller bridge over the Bidassoa, in the foreground, is that of Eusko Tren. Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi (Irun). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_Plaiaundi_1a.jpg (67951 bytes)

Talgo gauge-changer in Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi, seen from a Class 200 EMU of Euskotren, while calling at Puente Internacional-Nazioarteko Zubia. Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi (Irún). 14th August 2006. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

Irun_Plaiaundi_2.jpg (77354 bytes)

South end of Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi, between the stations of Hendaye and Irun, seen from Paseo de Colon. At this stage, both kinds of track (1668mm-3kV and 1435mm-1.5kV) run along each other. The 2 standard-gauge tracks are in the middle, whereas the remainder is broad-gauge. French passenger services use the left-hand standard-gauge track, just right of that rail-road track-working machine. Unlike Cerbère-Portbou, which are fully under 1.5kV DC (with Spanish stock at half-power), broad-gauge tracks are under 3kV in Hendaye-Irun. Hence these overhead signs, warning against voltage-crossings. Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi (Irun). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_Plaiaundi_2a.jpg (82553 bytes)

Same place, 1 year later... Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi (Irún). 14th August 2006. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

Irun_Plaiaundi_3.jpg (75032 bytes)

South end of Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi, seen from Paseo de Colon. French passenger services use the left-hand standard-gauge track, just right of that rail-road track-working machine. Unlike Cerbère-Portbou, which are fully under 1.5kV DC (with Spanish stock at half-power), broad-gauge tracks are under 3kV DC in Hendaye-Irun. Hence these overhead signs, warning against voltage-crossings. Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi (Irun). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

Irun_Plaiaundi_4.jpg (82400 bytes)

South end of Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi, seen from Paseo de Colon. Voltage-crossing: • Through track (1435mm-1.5kV DC), which accommodates French services terminating at Irun (reversing back to Hendaye thereafter); • Diverging track (1668mm-3kV DC), connecting Spanish main tracks (further left) with Freight sidings (Transfer and TECO yards, further right). Playa-Aundi/Plaiaundi (Irun). 29th July 2005. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr).

RENFE_Irun-Ventas_a1.jpg (83230 bytes)

Station of Ventas de Irún (ADIF/RENFE), served by RENFE-Cercanías C1 line (Irún <-> Tolosa) only. Pic made looking San Sebastián/Donostia and Madrid. Ventas de Irún (Irungo-Bentak). 14th August 2006. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

RENFE_Irun-Ventas_b1.jpg (70127 bytes)

Station of Ventas de Irún (ADIF/RENFE), served by RENFE-Cercanías C1 line (Irún <-> Tolosa) only. Those dual-gauge (1435mm+1668mm) tracks terminate down this bridge, which in 2006, is the furthest point where standard-gauge track from France may extend into Spain... Further left stands the Euskotren station of Irungo-Bentak, on the Topo line (1000mm-1.5kV DC). Pic made looking Irún and Hendaye. Ventas de Irún (Irungo-Bentak). 14th August 2006. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)