Description
The Former Prat de Comte Railway Station is one of the surviving reminders of the railway past along the Val de Zafán Greenway. Located within the municipality of Prat de Comte, in the Terra Alta, it stands some distance from the village and is surrounded by the landscape of the River Canaletes valley.
The station formed part of the former Val de Zafán railway, which connected Aragon with the Terres de l’Ebre. Today, the former railway trackbed has been converted into a Greenway. As a result, the station is an interesting stopping point for discovering railway heritage while exploring the route on foot or by bicycle.
Former Prat de Comte Railway Station and the Val de Zafán line
The history of the Former Prat de Comte Railway Station is closely linked to the Val de Zafán line, which reached Tortosa in the 1940s. The railway remained in operation until September 1973, when the line was permanently closed.
One of the events associated with the end of rail services was the collapse of a tunnel between Prat de Comte and El Pinell de Brai. This incident contributed to the closure of a line that was already experiencing operational difficulties. Subsequently, the former railway route was converted for cycling and walking.
A stop among tunnels and landscapes
The area around the station is particularly representative of the Greenway landscape. In fact, heading towards Bot, the route passes through a tunnel approximately 749 metres long, one of the longest in this section. Therefore, visitors should carry their own lights when travelling along the Greenway.
From the station, the route also continues towards the Fontcalda Sanctuary, following the former railway track. It passes through tunnels and over viaducts while crossing the rugged landscape around the River Canaletes. In addition, this section offers an excellent opportunity to discover some of the characteristic scenery of the Terra Alta.
The Jepa Valley and the River Canaletes
A path from the station area also leads towards the Jepa Valley interpretation area. From there, visitors can continue on foot towards the River Canaletes and the Estrets de Dalt, eventually reaching Fontcalda.
In this way, the former station acts as a connection between the Greenway and other routes for exploring the surrounding landscape. Its location makes it possible to combine railway heritage with the natural environment of the Canaletes valley.
Rest area along the Greenway
The station area has picnic tables and a children’s playground, making it a convenient place to stop before continuing the route. However, there is currently no confirmed regular tourism use or public opening schedule for the former station building. Therefore, the site should mainly be considered an outdoor stop along the Greenway.
Finally, the Former Prat de Comte Railway Station is an excellent place to understand how the old railway has been transformed into an active tourism route. Its tunnels, the Canaletes landscape and the proximity of Fontcalda add to the appeal of this stop along the Val de Zafán Greenway.