In February 1851, 175 years ago, the line that is today the oldest railway line in the Community of Madrid and the second oldest on the Iberian Peninsula was inaugurated: the Madrid-Aranjuez line. More than a century later, the historic Strawberry Train allows you to recreate that journey to the Royal Town—declared a Cultural Landscape and World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001—just as our ancestors did.
It is not merely a matter of recreating the same route as back then, but of doing so aboard authentic historic cars over 100 years old: among them are ‘Costa’ model cars—dating from the 1920s and featuring small balconies at the ends—and second-class BB-5045 cars (among the first metal-bodied cars built by Renfe in the mid-20th century), with eight compartments and seats upholstered in scay.
To round out the experience this year, in addition to strawberry tastings, the popular train has “revamped the theatrical presentation, and passengers will travel accompanied by characters who will tell them the history of the line, as well as conductors dressed in period costumes, responsible for punching their tickets,” explains the Spanish Railways Foundation.
What remains unchanged in this new edition is the variety of tourist routes it offers to explore Aranjuez: although you can go on your own (and in that case, you can bring your dog weighing up to 40 kg on the train), there are options that include guided tours of historic orchards, the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, or a canoe tour.
On which days will the Strawberry Train run?
The Strawberry Train’s schedule for this spring season is as follows:
- March: 22, 28, and 29
- April: 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26
- May: 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31
- June: 6 and 7.
How much does a trip aboard the Strawberry Train cost?
The price depends on the type of route chosen and the age of the passengers (whether they are adults or children), with prices ranging from €24 to €60. In this summary table, you can check the fares for each route.
Another new feature of this edition is that, when purchasing a train ticket, discounted tickets will be offered to visit the Madrid Railway Museum on dates following the trip.
For more information on schedules, routes, and tickets, please visit the Strawberry Train website.