Special train carries Spanish bishops and journalists for Pope's visit to Spain

A specially chartered train, number 11855, departed from Madrid's Atocha station Tuesday morning, carrying around 250 passengers, primarily members of the Spanish episcopate and journalists covering the papal visit. The train, bound for Barcelona-Sants, is part of the logistics for Pope Leo XIV's significant visit to Spain.

Before departure, César García Magán, secretary general of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), blessed the train at Atocha station, reciting a prayer and sprinkling holy water. The train's departure at 10:10 AM marked the beginning of a unique journey for those accompanying the Pope's delegation.

Marino Santopinto, Technical Director of Iryo, expressed relief as the journey commenced smoothly. The operation required meticulous planning, including weeks of meetings with the National Police and the Ministry of the Interior to finalize security protocols, consultations with the CEE to understand the delegation's needs, and coordination with Adif to secure the most suitable track without disrupting other services.

"We have carried out high-precision coordination," stated Santopinto, an Italian who has lived in Spain for six years. He highlighted the collaborative effort involved in making this trip possible, noting that while Iryo has customized train services before, this particular charter for such a large group, with two drivers and 19 crew members, is exceptionally significant due to its scale and media attention. Marisa R. Palop, Iryo's Director of Communication, Institutional Relations, and Brand, who previously covered papal events for Spanish television, described a papal visit as an immersive experience, with the train itself becoming part of that experience.