There are two ways of getting to know San Lorenzo de El Escorial and its famous monastery. The conventional one and the one that takes you back to the 1940s, enjoying a way of travelling with a great railway flavour. I am talking about the Tren de Felipe II, which will return in 2024 on 23 March.
A train from the 1940s in the 21st century
The time machine does not exist, it is an invention of science fiction that will probably always remain just that, fiction. But if there is something that resembles it, it is historic train journeys. Those railway vehicles of the past that, due to their age, are no longer in service.
This is the case of the locomotives and passenger carriages of the Tren de Felipe II. Alsa’s leisure and tourism proposal on rails, is to go from Madrid to El Escorial and visit the Royal Site. A train which, after its winter break (and having been used for the Three Kings’ Train), returns in just over a month.
In addition, this season it will have two new, recently restored passenger carriages for the first time. In addition to the traditional cars from the 5,000 class (manufactured from 1946 onwards) that make up this historic composition, there are two cars from the 3,300 and 3,600 classes.
In appearance, they are quite similar to those already used by Alsa for this train. In a move to modernise the passenger fleet, Renfe opted in the 1950s to modernise the old wooden coaches of the MZA and Norte companies. To do so, they kept their chassis but with a body similar to the then-modern and more comfortable passenger coaches of the 5,000 class.
Its interiors, divided into compartments and with wood as the main material, are the best way to relive the train journeys of more than 60 years ago. Although, it must be said, in even better comfort!
Details of the Felipe II Train 2024
At the moment we know few details about the 2024 season of the Felipe II Train. We know its starting date, that it will run every weekend and that its station in Madrid will continue to be Príncipe Pío.
In addition, Alsa is maintaining the packs that add complements to the return journey. As you can see in the information sheet for this tourist train, these are:
- Travesía. Free visit to San Lorenzo de El Escorial, with entrance to the Monastery.
- Imperial. Guided tour of the historic centre of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the Monastery.
- Leyendas. Add to the trip a visit to the gardens of the Casita del Infante, the viewpoints of the Monastery, the gardens and Lonja del Real Sitio, and the historical complex of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. Plus a panoramic bus tour through the Forest of Felipe II (La Herrería).