| I was in my 54th year before I set foot on the island of Mallorca. I was always put off by visions of fish and chips and lager louts, and it has to be said that some of the island resorts do indeed cater for this market. However the greater part of the island is delightful and surprisingly unspoilt, though traffic congestion is becoming an ever increasing problem.
Of the island's two railway systems, the electric interurban from Palma to Soller is the most interesting from the enthusiast point of view. It starts its journey in a period piece of a station and then travels along the streets like an urban tram, before striking out across open countryside. At Bunyola there is a passing loop and then the train climbs through the mountain range which separates Soller from the rest of the island. After cutting through the mountain in a long tunnel it descends in a series of sharp curves to terminate in what must be one of the prettiest railway stations in the world in Soller town. Here connections are made with the tramway to complete the journey to the port of Soller. In contrast the SFM line is there to provide much needed reliable public transport for the island's inhabitants. The present system is the rump of a much more extensive network which was severely pruned in the 1970s, leaving just one line from Palma to the town of Inca in the centre of the island. Since 2000 the line beyond Inca to Sa Pobla has reopened and further reopenings now provide a link to Manacor in the east. There are also plans to reopen from Sa Pobla to the north coast at Alcudia. The SFM provides an intensive service which is well used throughout the day, and provides an ideal opprtunity to hear the island language, which is a version of the Catalan language spoken in Barcelona and Valencia. |
This view of the depot at Soller town taken on 18 April 2006 shows the very attractive location of the main operating centre of the Soller Railway 900x675 FCdeSoller_a_18-4-06.jpg |
This is the view in the opposite direction yaken from roughly the same spot as the previous image. One of the line's four motor coaches is lurking in the carriage shed 900x675 FCdeSoller_b_18-4-06.jpg |
Motor coach no. 2 at the head of train for Palma at Soller town on 18 April 2006 900x675 FCdeSoller_c_18-4-06.jpg |
Taken from a little further back to the previous image one of the ex-Lisbon tramway cars creeps into the picture as car 2 makes ready to depart on 18 April 2006 900x675 FCdeSoller_d_18-4-06.jpg |
Those who wish to witness the sight of the Soller railway in the streets of Palma will need to be quick, because just a few yards away to the right of this picture work is proceeding on the tunnels and major interchange which will accommodate both this line and the SFM diesel line on an underground route into Palma 900x675 FCdeSoller_e_20-4-06.jpg |
Palma station is highly traditional, but what will happen to this layout and buildings in what is a high value property area remains to be seen when the line is diverted into the new underground interchange 900x675 FCdeSoller_f_20-4-06.jpg |
Motor coach 2 of the Soller Railway is seen here running round its train at Palma on a very grey 20 April 2006 900x675 FCdeSoller_g_20-4-06.jpg |
Another view showing the yard at Palma with car 2 backing on to its train on 20 April 2006 900x675 FCdeSoller_h_20-4-06.jpg |
Seen from the modern footbridge which crosses the tracks at the north end of Palma station SFM railcar 61-01 heads a four car set making its final approaches to the terminus on a journey from Inca on 17 April 2001. The layout here has been severely rationalised since steam days, and surplus land given over to housing and also a receational area. The building on the left is a former railway installation, but one can only imagine that it never looked as white as that when steam trains ran here! 900x566 SFM_61-01_17-4-01.jpg |
This is the same train as the previous image, with railcar 61-04 bringing up the rear of the train. Palma is now a simple platform which can hold two trains, but the extent of the former layout can be seen in the background. The terminus of the Soller Railway is on the other side of the road to the right of this picture 900x566 SFM_61-04_17-4-01.jpg |
This was the northern terminus at Sa Pobla in 2001, with railcar 61-07 waiting to depart for Palma. All the stations on the SFM have been reconstructed with high platforms providing level access into the railcars. 900x576 SFM_61-07_17-4-01.jpg |
SFM railcar 61-07 again at Sa Pobla seen from the other side of the line 900x566 SFM_61-07_b_17-4-01.jpg |
Later in the day I caught 61-07 yet again approaching the buffer stops at Palma having worked in from Inca 900x566 SFM_61-07_c_17-4-01.jpg |
Looking north from Sa Pobla the route of the former line to Alcudia can be clearly traced ahead. It must have been interesting to ride through this small town behind a steam locomotive, but if all the plans come to fruition, trains will run again to Alcudia in the future 900x566 SFM_61-08_17-4-01.jpg |
Five years on from my previous visit to Palma I found that the SFM station had been relocated to a temporary site much further from the Placa de Espana to facilitate the construction work on the new underground transport interchange which will be to the left of this image. Railcar 61.19 awaits departure from the cramped platforms on 20 April 2006 900x675 SFM_a_61.19_20-4-06.jpg |
This zoomed shot from the same location as the previous image shows just how cramped the temporary site is. The platforms will just accommodate a four car coupled set. The building in the background is a survivor from the steam era and now serves as part of the bus terminal which is on the other side 900x675 SFM_b_61.19_20-4-06.jpg |
A third shot from the same location of the temporary terminus at Palma shows the narrow platform on the left. With a 15 minute service during the day it must be absolute chaos if they get a train fail in this location! 900x675 SFM_c_61_19_20-4-06.jpg |
This hoarding by the temporary station in Palma announces the construction of the underground transport interchange. This development is by no means popular and banners hanging from many residential buildings carried objections to the construction which has resulted in the loss of a pleasant landscaped park area on part of the trackbed of the former railway alignment, with the SFM railway on a simplified layout incorporated 900x675 SFM_d_Palma_20-4-06.jpg |
The SFM railcars now carry the TIB red and yellow livery which is also carried by many of the island's private buses. This is 61.08 at Palma on 20 April 2006 900x675 SFM_e_61.08_20-4-06.jpg |
All trains now carry the TIB logo which is also to be seen on many of the island's buses. There is increasing co-ordination between bus and rail services in the island, even with bus services in the hands of small private operators. If this can be achieved on this small island why is it so difficult in the United Kingdom? 900x675 SFM_f_Logo_20-4-06.jpg |
This is the scene from roughly the same spot as my image of SFM railcar 61-04 taken in April 2001. The station has gone and work is well advanced on the construction of the new underground interchange 900x675 SFM_g_Palma_20-4-06.jpg |
SFM railcar 61-42 heads a four car set entering Inca on 21 April 2006 on a working to Manacor 900x675 SFM_h_61.42_21-4-06.jpg |
The original building at Inca has been kept and is well maintained, and staffed. The overall roof is new, and is there more to protect waiting passengers from the sun rather than to provide shelter from the rain 900x566 SFM_Inca_25-4-00.jpg |
The reopening of the line through the centre of the island to Manacor has taken place since my previous visit, and it was interesting to ride the line on 21 April 2006. This is railcar 61-42 on arrival at Manacor 900x675 SFM_i_61.42_21-4-06.jpg |
