Mallorca, Spain

In my previous post, I focussed on Magaluf, one of Mallorca's more well-known holiday resorts.  This post looks at the public transport systems more generally across Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands.

Buses provide the vast majority of public transport around the island.  An extensive network of routes is provided by Transports de les Illes Balears (TiB), radiating out from the capital, Palma de Mallorca.

I found a wide variety of vehicles in use on the TiB network when I visited in April 2017.

There were plenty of standard, two-axle single-deck buses.

Of these, I found some which were low-floor with step-free access...

...while others were high-floor.

 

















 
 







There were also buses with three axles...













 
... as well as articulated buses. 

 






 

Coaches were also in use on some services...








...while I also noted minibuses operating.

 









The bus routes are numbered according to which part of Mallorca they serve.

Routes operating to the west of Palma are numbered from 100 upwards.  Routes numbered in the 200s operate north of Palma, with routes numbered in the 300s operating into and around the north east of the island.  Bus routes serving the eastern part of Mallorca are numbered in the 400s, while routes numbered in the 500s serve the south of the island.

Four routes provide dedicated links from the airport to various destinations.  These are numbered A11, A32, A42 and A51.

TiB produces a printed route map and guide.  However, perhaps a sign of the times, the guide does not itself contain any information on how frequently each route operates, instead merely including a QR code for access to each route's timetable.  I guess that is OK if you have a smartphone and internet access, but not so good if you don't.

The bus network is complemented by rail services, operating on narrow gauge.

A line operates eastwards from Palma de Mallorca, to termini at Sa Pobla and Manacor.  Electric trains run from Palma as far as Enllaç.


Beyond Enllaç, diesel trains provide connections to Sa Pobla and Manacor.











Details of these train services can be found on the TiB website.

There is another railway, which is rather more well-known.

The Ferrocarril de Sóller is a heritage narrow-gauge electric railway, running north from Palma to the town of Sóller.
























In Palma, the Ferrocarril de Sóller runs on street to reach its terminus, next to the TiB transport interchange.











At Sóller, a heritage tramway connects the railway station and town with the coast at Port Sóller.









































The tourist information office in Sóller is a converted tram car.













The tram depot is in Sóller, alongside the station.

This image was taken as one of the trams was being returned to depot after a busy day.





At Port Sóller, the tramway runs along the waterfront for a short distance.

 

Tram number 1 is one of several original trams still in use, more than 100 years after the tram line first opened.


 

 




Special fares apply on the Ferrocarril de Sóller and on the tram, reflecting their status as a tourist attraction rather than an integral part of Mallorca's public transport system.  Nevertheless, the services run daily all year round.

For passengers who do not wish to pay the premium fares for the train and tram, TiB bus services also connect Palma, Sóller and Port Sóller.

Boat services, primarily aimed at tourists, operate from various ports around Mallorca's coastline.






















Ferries also connect Mallorca with the Spanish mainland, primarily Barcelona, as well as to the islands of Ibiza and Menorca.


These are operated by two companies - Balearia and Trasmediterranea.

The crossings to the mainland take around 7 hours, therefore some sailings are overnight.



Palma de Mallorca has its own city bus network, provided by EMT, and a metro.  I have written about Palma in a separate post.