NeoPatrick

While in Barcelona I think we'd like to go to Sitges for the day. I read on several tourist information type sites that trains depart every hour or even less for there. But when I look on the Renfre site (which seems to freeze up consistently) or even the Die Bahn site (which I find to be more user friendly and often more accurate), I find only one direct train very early in the morning and then none till late in the evening. What am I missing here or is there another place I should be looking? We'd prefer to go from Franca as it is close to our apartment, but there don't seem to be other trains from either of the other stations.

TimS

Most trains between Barcelona and Sitges are operated by Cercanias, the suburban rail network, and the German Rail site doesn't list them. I didn't succeed in finding timetables, but it seems logical that there is frequent service on that route. I did find a map and it shows departures from several points within Barcelona, including Sants, but not Franca.

TimS

Oops! The map shows line R2 originating at Franca and going to Sitges (and beyond).

kappa1

Tim is right. Also even RENFE (National Netwwork site) don't show there commuter trains. They run approximately, 2 trains per hour I thing. I have done this more than a few many times. The train can be normal type or double decker. I think they are 2nd class only. From Renfe site, I was once able to get to the site of this commuter train network and got the time table for Bercelona - Sitges. From Barcelona normally you take a train direction Vilanova which is 1 (or maybe 2 stops?) after Sitges if I remember correctly. I have done a Sitges - Vilanova hike along the coastal road a couple of times.

If I succeed to get the timetable again, I will come back and post the URL. Otherwise you don't really need a detailed timetable. As I said there are 2 train per hour.

TimS

Oops again! There are two R2 lines, R2 (light green) and R2 Sud (dark green). Franca to Sitges is R2 Sud. And I did find timetables. There are four trains/hour.

kappa1

Got it.

http://www.renfe.com/viajeros/cercan...ona/index.html

Origen : Barcelona - Passeig de Gracia (underground station, all the trains for Sitges stop here, conveniently located at the foot of Gaudi's Casa Batlló in the middle of the city.)
Destino : Sitges

In peak hours, there are even 4 trains per hour.

kappa1

Yes, as Tim wrote, 4 trains per our most of the time, not only peak hours.

NeoPatrick

kappa, I enter that link and enter either station in Barcelona and Sitges and put in this Sunday for date and I just get:
"Datos no disponibles.
para este día (21-08-2011 ) No Existen Servicios entre el Origen y el Destino solicitado"

Now I may not speak much Spanish, but I think I can figure that out.

But I guess the bottom line is not to worry, just go to the station and there are lots of trains -- but they don't go from Franca any more??

kappa1

Patrick, I got the same message when I left the date as today. Then I put an arbitrary date in september and the timetable showed. Try it, just to get an idea of how often the trains run. Some faste than others with less stops.

http://www.sitges-tourist-guide.com/...to-sitges.html

Above page says " .. not all of the trains start at Estacio de França or return there.."

So I rather recommended you go to Passeig de Gracia. It's also so central, always convenient for me. Unless you stay near Franca station.

NeoPatrick

Yes, we're in the Born, about two blocks from Franca so that would be really easy. That's why I was trying to figure out which ones or how many start there. I had seen that same sitges tourist guide site.

GeoffHamer

It seems that the line is closed for work at Sants station from 4 to 27 August. During that period, trains to Sitges start from Bellvitge which can be reached by metro.
www.gencat.cat/rodalies/desconnexioperobres.htm

NeoPatrick

Wow. That would explain a lot. Thanks Geoff.

Cowboy1968

Just be aware that the metro stop "Bellvitge" and the Rodalies station "Bellvitge" are appr. 400 meters away from each other. I think there will be some signage during works, but an alternative could be to take the direct bus to Sitges from Plaça Catalunya / Ronda Universitat.