Coronavirus Train Disruptions - Southern Europe
Southern Europe is very much in the grips of a nasty second wave. And this time the Balkans are badly hit too.
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Italy - coronavirus rail disruptions
Face-masks are mandatory on all Italian trains. It seems you also need to wear disposable gloves. Social distancing distance is 1 m.
Italy border status
Here you can see which borders you can cross by train. Restrictions may apply. Be sure to check these.
Open
Closed
Italy has gone back into a nasty lockdown. Travel is severely restricted.
International Services
International services are suffering again.
- Swiss local trains reach Domodossola.
- Thello services to Nice and Marseille are running
- TILO regional services between Ticino and Lombardy are running at half their normal rate
- Services from Vienna to Venice cancelled
- Nightjets still running. Private compartments are mandatory.
- Eurocity services from Switzerland to Italy mostly cancelled
- The Thello night train from Venice to Paris remains cancelled.
National Services
Presumably to ease contact tracing, all LeFrecce, Intercity and Eurocity tickets are now personalised. That is, with your name and for your use only.
From what I can tell, Trenitalia seems to be running all its trains.
On regional trains, only 50% load is recommended. Dunno what that is supposed to mean.
Italo is running at the moment, but at a reduced rate. I found one daily train between Venezia Santa Lucia and Roma Termini. I do hope they survive. Here is their timetable in full:
Rules of train travel on Trenitalia
Refund policies
Trenitalia refunds all tickets fully. Long and medium distance tickets are reimbursed as a voucher, local tickets are reimbursed in cash.
Italo reimburses you with a voucher that can be used for up to a year.
Click here for all the Trenitalia details.
Updated: 26th November. Outlook: getting worse
Spain - coronavirus rail disruptions
Spain border status
Here you can see which borders you can cross by train. Restrictions may apply. Be sure to check these.
Open
Closed
Face masks (mascarillas) are mandatory in all Spanish trains. Social distancing distance is 2 m.
International Services
Services to France are running.
Services between Portugal and Spain remain suspended.
National Services
There is much less about coronavirus on the Spanish Railways' website, Renfe.com. Random queries come up with a lot of trains. I assume most trains are running, but not all seats sold.
There are 15 trains daily between Madrid and Barcelona on my last check.
Refund policies
Spain has reintroduced the state of emergency and all tickets can be exchanged free of charge. Spain-France: all tickets exchangeable at short notice up until 4th January 2021.
Updated: 26th November. Outlook: stable
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Portugal - coronavirus rail disruptions
Face masks are obligatory in Portugal. The social distancing distance is 2 m.
Portugal border status
Here you can see which borders you can cross by train. Restrictions may apply. Be sure to check these.
Open
Closed
International services
All international services suspended.
National services
Local and regional services are mostly running.
Alfa Pendular and Intercity services are severely reduced and running to this schedule here
Here is CP's coronavirus page.
Refund policies
Refund policies are as usual.
Updated: 26th November. Outlook: stable
Bulgaria - coronavirus rail disruptions
Face masks are mandatory on all Bulgarian trains. Social distancing distance is 1 m.
Bulgaria border status
Here you can see which borders you can cross by train. Restrictions may apply. Be sure to check these.
Open
Closed
Here is BDZ's live timetable. I've set the link to show you the departures from Ruse, Bulgaria's northern frontier.
International services
International services, such as are scheduled in autumn, are running.
Services to Turkey and Greece remain suspended indefinitely
National Services
All domestic services are running. In sleepers, only single berths are being sold.
Refund policies
Refund policies are unchanged. BDZ assume no liability if you are prevented from making your journey.
Updated: 26th November. Outlook: stable
Greece - coronavirus rail disruptions
Face masks are mandatory on Greek trains and the social distancing distance is 2 m.
Greece border status
Here you can see which borders you can cross by train. Restrictions may apply. Be sure to check these.
Open
Closed
International services
All international services are suspended.
National Services
National services seem to be running normally.
Only half the seats are being sold and all windows are unlocked to increase ventilation (yay! open windows!)
Here is a nice video showing what Trainose does for your safety.
Refund policies
I can't find them. As the first shock waves have passed, reimbursement has become less of an issue, I assume.
Updated: 26th November. Outlook: stable
Now what?
Well, I'm going to update this page every week. Truth be told, I'm up for some distraction now.
- Why not have a look at my other posts and plan for better times
- Or look at my coronavirus page, where I have all my coronavirus-writing in one place
- Or join my free Rail Guide Europe club and get the password to my insider guides
FREE Access
Join my Rail Guide Europe Club FREE
Sign up now and gain instant access to:
- The password to my Insider Rail Guides
- My FREE Telegram help group
- Ask me Anything status by email
