Vía Verde de La Jara

Youtube Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFkNdFGqp9M&t=12s

On this vídeo we biked from Talavera de la Reina and Santa Quiteria train station. The first part we ran through Tajo greenway untill we arrived to Calera y Chozas station, where we started the Vía Verde de la Jara. This old railway was part of the project to connect Talavera de la Reina to Villanueva de la Serena (see below details of this project).

After a long night bus trip from Aveiro to Madrid, we disembarked at Madrid Sur bus station, where we had to buy a bike cover, in order to be able to board the train. We carried the whole bike pack untill Madrid Puerta de Atocha train station, where we boarded the Intercity train to Talavera de la Reina, after 2 hours waiting time.

Boarding the Intercity train, with our bikes packed, was a bit special, once the bikes transport in Spain it is not really develloped. It´s something we were already aware of, and we were a bit scared about it. At the end, and after a first straight "NO,eso no puede viajar!" (that can´t be taken on the train) we were able to convince the train crew to stow our bike bags in the restaurant car, where we knew that there is some space. After all, carrying the bikes in a bag it´s allowed, if we choose it during the ticket purchase, and as long as do not exceed the size limits.

The train trip was smooth, already thinking on the bike unpacking process , which took us around an hour, and also with some problems for the train station crew. In the end we convinced them to let us to unpack the bikes inside the station, promising we would leave everything clean, and we did it. Thank you Renfe/Adif :D

The first km´s ran through Tajo farm fields, with no altimetry noticed, some dry muddy trails, making us remember our region.

After about 17 km, we started the la Jara greenway. The first km´s were a bit tedious, with the exception of crossing Puente Amador over the river.

At the Aldeanueva de Barbarroya station, we visited an old set of 2 train cars, probably installed there at the end of the 90´s, once the old train sleepers were made in 1997.

After that the landscape turned from some sheep cattlery fields into more wild landscape, which we loved. The last km´s before nightfall were incridible, with a stunning Sunset, which will be recorded in our memories for years and years.

The last 8km looked like endless, once we were tired, both phisically, but also mentally, due to lack of sleep in the Bus ride to Madrid. Also, was already dark.

Finally we arrived to Santa Quiteria station, where we spent the night, a very very humid one.

Talavera de la Reina to Villanueva de la Serena Project:

The project to connect these two villages was part of a bigger project dated from late 20´s. This project, called "Plan Guadalhorce" was aimed to build some complimentary railways, in order to connect some main lines. In this project was included some connections, like:
-Madrid - Aranda de Duero - Burgos
- Zamora - A Coruña
- Baeza - Utiel - Lleida - Saint Girons
- Talavera de la Reina - Villanueva de la Serena

Most of them were not concluded, and were abandoned in the 60´s.

The railway we travelled, from Talavera de la Reina to Villanueva de la Serena, in the original project, was supposed to have a pararell line From Talavera to Calera y Chozas, and from there turning south to Villanueva. However, a cheaper solution was adopted, building a new station in Calera y Chozas, and from there starting the railway directly.

This railway had different stages of development. From Calera to Santa Quiteria, the whole infraestructure was ready, just missing to install the rails. From Santa Quiteria to Logrosán the same, except 20 km between Santa Quiteria and Guadalupe. The most develloped strecth was between Logrosán and Villanueva de la Serena, where the rails were installed, and some grain trains were even operated.

This project contemplated the consctruction of some bridges, tunnels, and some train stations, listed here:
- Calera y Chozas
- Apeadero de Silos
- Aldeanueva de Barbarroya
- Apeadero de Pilas
- Apeadero de Nava Fuentes
- Campillo-Sevilleja
-Apeadero de la Cervilla
-Santa Quiteria Mines
- Santa Quiteria
-Guadarranque
- Alía
- Guadalupe
-Berzocana
-Cañamero
-Logrosán
-Zorita-Lavadero
- Madrigalejo
-Campo Lugar
-Rena
- Villanueva de la Serena