Sóller train returns: Back between Palma and Sóller from 2 February

Sóller train returns: Back between Palma and Sóller from 2 February

Carriages, tracks and overhead lines were overhauled in recent weeks – timetable for the first services announced

In the early morning the city smells of wet stone and oranges when you walk to Estación de Palma — exactly the scent the small historic railway has connected with the Sóller valley for generations. After a scheduled winter break, the trains of the Tren de Sóller are now resuming regular service: operations between Palma and Sóller start on Monday, 2 February 2026.

The quiet time on the tracks was not a lazy pause. Technicians and engine crews inspected and partially replaced carriages, sections of rail, signalling equipment and the tram overhead lines. The company specifically used this period to secure route sections that had been exposed to wind and rain in recent months. Anyone who last travelled in November or December will notice many improvements on the next trip — especially where the line winds tightly through tunnels and the terraces of the Tramuntana mountains.

The railway association around the project emphasises that such winter works are part of an ongoing plan to preserve this historic connection. For the operators, reliability comes first: fewer unexpected breakdowns, better travel conditions and a stable operation during the busy tourist season.

At the start of regular services the following base timetable applies: the first train leaves Palma this Monday at 10:30 and will arrive in the Sóller valley at about 11:30. The last scheduled return from Sóller departs at 17:00 and is due in Palma at 18:00. Those looking for specific time windows or combined tickets with the small tram to the harbour village of Puerto de Sóller can find current departure times and fares on the official Tren de Sóller website or directly at the ticket office in the station.

For locals, the restart is more than just news: on the Passeig del Born and in the surrounding cafés, neighbours are already discussing which seats on the train are cosiest — window seats or the wooden bench in the middle? At the weekend the route will likely quickly become popular again with walkers, parents with prams and day-trippers planning a ride into the orange valley.

A practical tip: on the first days of operation after a pause the ticket office and boarding can be busier than usual. If you want to be sure, buy tickets in advance or arrive early at the station. For commuters the change means little in everyday life — the line remains tourist-oriented, but it also continues to be a piece of everyday connection for many residents in the northwest of the island.

The restart of the Sóller train is also a reminder of how much work is behind maintained wooden panelling and nostalgic seats. From mechanical brake checks to inspections of the overhead line along the route: all this usually happens unseen while the trains are standing still. For the island, each well-prepared season means fewer disruptions, more relaxed journeys and a sustainable approach to a transport heritage that is run not as a museum but as a living means of transport.

Next time you hear a whistle in the distance and see the wooden carriages rolling slowly through the orange trees, remember: behind this familiar picture is skilled work carried out in silence — and now again scheduled services linking Palma and Sóller.

Good to know: First regular departure from Palma: Monday, 2 February, 10:30 (arrival Sóller approx. 11:30). Last return from Sóller: 17:00 (arrival Palma approx. 18:00). Current timetables and ticket information on the official Tren de Sóller website or directly at the station.