Km. 0 / Km. 15 / Km. 21 / Km. 24 / Km. 29 / Km. 36 / Km. 47 / Km. 49
 

This Greenway is very easy to follow as practically the entire route from end to end is surfaced with an unmistakable red asphalt and is perfectly signposted. Another piece of good news is that most of the route is for the exclusive use of cyclists and walkers only, and motor vehicles are prohibited.

Km 0
The opening of the section of the Tajuña Greenway between Arganda del Rey and Morata de Tajuña in May 2007 means that users from Madrid can now access the Greenway by line 9 of the Metro de Madrid. Cyclists should consult the Metro bylaws to check whether they are permitted to carry their bicycles on the trains as there may be some restrictions depending on the day or the time of day.

It’s a good idea to start at the La Poveda Railway Museum, 4.3 km from Arganda railway station.

And it is certainly an excellent idea to visit the museum or ride on one of its historic trains. This railway complex is managed by the Vapor Madrid (Madrid Steam) association who, in conjunction with Arganda Town Council, have restored a 6 kilometre stretch of the old Madrid-Alocén railway line. This project includes a museum and a workshop for restoring the coaches and other rolling stock which are then used on weekend runs. For all timetable details, consult the association’s website.

It is the only historic railway operating in the Community of Madrid, so why not take a train ride?

After this visit we take the cycle path from La Poveda which runs along the path of the old rail bed. However, very soon we have to cross the M-300 road (Km, 0.5), where extreme care needs to be taken. This is where the La Poveda level crossing used to be. Next we enter the town of Arganda, where the recovery of the old railway as a greenway means we can enjoy a reasonably long stretch of asphalted cycle and pedestrian path with no motor traffic to worry about.

At Km 3.7 we reach the Avenida Madrid. If we want to go on towards the Tajuña Greenway we need to turn right, and at the next roundabout follow the signs to the greenway. But if we want to head for the Metro station we need to turn left and follow the cycle path to an underpass. The station is just the other side of it (Km 4.3).

Tajuña Greenway

Within the town of Arganda there are two stretches of the old mining railway which have been developed as Greenway. The first, developed by the Arganda Town Council, runs for 3 kilometres between the old level crossing at Azucarera de La Poveda (Km 1.1 of the M-300 road) and the Príncipe Felipe sports centre in the centre of town.

On its way out of the town centre the Greenway runs between the edge of the industrial zone of Arganda and an area of gentle hillsides dotted with olive trees. The route crosses under the A-3 motorway after which the Greenway begins to climb gently through a series of curves with the aid of various cuttings and embankments. The trail levels out when we reach the top of a large plateau known as El Alto before dropping down in a sweeping curve to Morata de Tajuña.

Download the "Secretos de la Vía Verde del Tajuña" diptych where the vestiges related to one of the most decisive battles of the Spanish Civil War, the Battle of Jarama, fought in February 1937.   The booklet describes two sections:   Section1- From Morata to Arganda Section 2 - From Morata to Perales Click here>>

 

Km 21

Our red trail now passes without incident through a rural landscape of farmland and crop fields to the site of the former Tajuña station. From here there used to be a spur line to take trains up to the villages of Chinchón and Colmenar de Oreja. On the opposite side of the road we can see a metal bridge that used to serve this spur line. This section of undeveloped Greenway is only passable for 3 kilometres, as far as a quarry. But if you feel tempted, be careful; you will be sharing the track with trucks!

Returning to our developed Greenway, we continue on towards Perales along a section containing a number of short, steep ups and downs, the only ones of any significance on our route.

Km 24
We arrive at Perales de Tajuña. The old station disappeared long ago; on its site there is now a school and where the railway lines used to run are now streets. Here our Greenway temporarily divides in two and travellers can choose the route that best suits them. One route branches off from the railway line at the entrance to the town to the right, crosses the river, and runs parallel to it through lowland meadows. This route uses existing rural tracks which lead us to, and underneath, a viaduct on the A-3 motorway. We share these tracks with other traffic, so be on the alert!

The other route, which follows the old railway route more closely, goes through the town, passes the cemetery, and heads towards the same viaduct on the A-3 mentioned earlier. This attractive route runs along the foot of the spectacular “Risco de las Cuevas” (a cliff with more than 50 prehistoric troglodyte dwellings), but several hundred metres before we reach the motorway it becomes impassable so we need to drop down to the other branch of the Greenway described in the paragraph above (it is less than 300m away but we need to take care when crossing the intervening roads).

With the two “branches” of our Greenway now reunited we continue our way until the end of the route along rural tracks on the left bank of the Tajuña. We remind you that these tracks are open to rural traffic so you will need to take care. The old railway line used to run on the other side of the river but sadly that route could not be restored since houses and factories have invaded the rail bed at a number of points.

Km 29

We make our way along a flat trail through a gently undulating rural landscape towards the village of Carabaña. On the far side of the Tajuña we can see the village of Tielmes, which we can reach by taking the first road on our left at a crossroads where a small rest area has been prepared. The Greenway continues to run parallel and to the right of the road until we arrive at a hermitage. From there we continue to travel through the lowland meadows of the Tajuña river, once again moving closer to the banks of the river on our left. Meanwhile, on the other side of the river is the interesting, well preserved Chavarri station, where trains used to stop to take on board bottles of “Agua de Carabaña” mineral water, which was famed for its medicinal qualities.

Km 36
By the time we arrive at the intersection with the Carabaña to Brea de Tajo road, our red track almost reaches the banks of the river again, where a pretty water mill signals our entrance into Carabaña. From here we can either go into the village to take a break from the trail or we can press on to the next stop on our route, Orusco. To reach Orusco we need to bear right on the Brea road until we rejoin the Greenway on our left. This new section runs parallel to the rail bed of the Ferrocarril de los 40 Días (the Forty Days Railway) which was built during the Spanish Civil War. The trail at this point is a rural track made suitable for cyclists (but be on the lookout for cars and other users). Soon we arrive outside the village of Orusco where we cross underneath the road before either visiting this pleasant village or continuing along the Greenway, which a little further on rejoins the old railway line for the last few kilometres.

Km 47

This is one of the most pleasant stretches of the Greenway. We pass under little bridges, between groves of trees, and on some occasions along sections where there is an almost sheer drop down to the river. We are now close to the end of our route at Ambite. The Greenway passes through a dense pine wood before arriving at the levelled ground surrounding the old station, which houses since August 2006 an outdoor municipal pool. This is equipment that, as the Greenway, is aimed at all: it has access for disabled people and has an elevator for easy immersion in water. The costumes are also designed for hikers and cyclists can wash. And if this were not enough incentive, the old passenger building which houses a bar-cafe regain strength. Without doubt, a brooch luxury travel of the Greenway Tajuña. 

Right at the beginning of our itinerary we come across our first point of interest, the Vega del TajuñaNature Centre, with its permanent exhibition featuring the highlights of the region’s ecosystems, as well as a bike and tricycle rental service. The Greenway continues for another 3 km, gradually ascending up the side of the valley from the surroundings of the Tajuña River lowlands.

 

The second part of the itinerary is of greater interest since it goes through the area’s most representative ecosystem, Mediterranean scrubland, with holm oak as the dominant tree species. The landscape also features some olive groves.

 

A little further on we will come across a flyover above the Greenway, which was used in the past to cross the railway. We can still see the ballast (stone placed at the base of the rails), which the Greenway now goes around.

 

At the end of the Ambite section there is a viaduct that enabled the train to pass over the Perdiz Ravine. From this considerable height, we can contemplate spectacular scenery featuring the Tajuña River lowlands. The small riverside forest, in which black poplars stand out, dominates the valley floor, surrounded by mainly cereal crops.

 

The Greenway in the Madrid region ends here, but you can continue for more than 12 km in the neighbouring province of Guadalajara as far as Pozo de Almoguera, if you want to continue enjoying this old railway. And, hopefully, someday this Greenway will manage to reach the banks of the Tagus River in Entrepeñas.

 

But at the moment you have no more and no less than 68 km of continuous Greenway (plus another 14 km of the 40-Day Train Greenway) to explore the regions of Madrid and Castile-La Mancha. Discover them! 

More info about the section in Guadalajara>>