Red Lightning rolls again – Tren de Sóller starts the season

Red Lightning rolls again – Tren de Sóller starts the season

From 2 February daily again between Palma and Sóller; round-trip €30

On the morning of 2 February, that familiar, slightly rattling sound could be heard again in Plaça d'Espanya in Palma: the Tren de Sóller slowly rolling out of the station and heading towards the Tramuntana. The first train of the season left Palma at 10:30 — for many locals and visitors a small, welcome ritual after the winter break, as reported in Tren de Sóller pauses until February – necessary work, but also questions for the island.

The train had been in the workshop since 24 November, according to Sóller train and tram enter winter pause – track work until February. During that time cars and tracks were inspected: brakes, couplings, rail profiles, but also seats and wooden paneling were checked and repaired where necessary. Such inspections are not a formality for historic vehicles, but a necessity. The operators made it clear that safety comes before speed — which reassures commuters as much as tourists with cameras.

A round trip costs €30 per person. Tickets can be bought as usual at the stations in Sóller and Palma; those who want to secure their seat should also check the Tren de Sóller official website, which also lists the current timetables and fares for 2026.

For island residents the train has a different value than for holidaymakers. It is not just an object of nostalgia but part of everyday life: pupils, market traders, pensioners on their way to the dentist — doors open and coffee cups are held steady in the town and the valley. On the short route the landscape opens up; lemon and orange trees line the valley, olive groves glitter silver in the February sun. It is a small escape without going far.

In Sóller itself you notice the return of the train immediately: the cafés on the Plaça and the small shops in Carrer de sa Lluna receive more guests again. At Port de Sóller's promenade you can later hear the lingering sound when the small tram shuttles from the town to the harbour — the train–tram connection is a piece of mobility culture that shapes the place.

Anyone planning an outing on weekends should keep peak times in mind. Especially on sunny days the train fills up quickly; those who want to travel relaxed should take one of the earlier or later services and combine it with a walk through Sóller's narrow streets or a coffee on the waterfront promenade.

The restart of the Tren de Sóller is also a small boost for the island's economy: local businesses benefit, taxi drivers, market sellers, small hotels. For many it is a piece of identity that becomes visible and audible again. Maintaining such historic links costs time and money, but it pays off in quality of life.

A practical tip: if you plan to use the train and the connecting tram, allow a little buffer time. The transfers are relaxed, but leisurely boarding and a short stroll in Sóller simply belong. And please: tempting as it is — the historic wooden carriages do not like heavy, wet suitcases piled on the seats.

The season is open, and spring looks set to bring many days with blooming almond trees and clear air. For all who want to experience a piece of Mallorca that is not only sold through photos, the ride on the Tren de Sóller is still a small promise: landscape, history and a slightly slower way of life. If you board now you hear the clatter of the tracks and see how the island gets a bit of everyday life back.

More information on times and prices is available at trendesoller.com — or simply ask at the station locally. Have a good trip and keep your eyes open looking outside: the Tramuntana is waiting.