Oil Rail Trail. Moriles - Campo Real section

Following the passage of the Oil Train

With the start-up of this section, between the municipalities of Moriles and Lucena and the Campo Real Station, the Oil Rail Trail (Jaén) and the Subbaetic Rail Trail (Cordoba) are continued. Both lie over the former Puente Genil-Linares railway line, which was essential for the development and industrialisation of the towns it passed through and, although its initial objective was to transport the mineral extracted from the Linares area, olive oil was the main product carried, so it was popularly named the "Oil Train".

This route starts at the edge of the municipalities of Moriles and Lucena, just after the Subbaetic Rail Trail Nature Trail. You can reach the starting point taking the A-318 road, taking an exit onto a dirt track at about kilometre 29.2, near some buildings. The dirt track soon crosses the Nature Trail.

We will be accompanied all along the way by extensive olive groves stretching to the horizon, full of asparagus ferns and ruderal grasses on the edges of the lanes, and the sporadic apparition of grand oak trees.

We can also find fig trees, vines and quince trees grown in fields near the edge of the trail and rushes on the riverbanks.

Shortly after we start walking, we go over the Fuente Romero River and nearby is the only rest area on this route. Following the route, we cross a large footbridge over the A-318 road.

The slopes dug out to allow the railway through are used as a burrow by the rabbits that jump out in front of the traveller all along the way; we are also accompanied by red-legged partridges, and red kites watching their prey from the skies above. If you take the route in summer, you will also hear the constant characteristic sound of cicadas.

With the views of the Sierra del Castillo and Sierra del Niño always in front of us, the trail continues without much change, passing close by different farms and wineries. After crossing the Navaluenga River, we soon come to the end of the route, next to the Campo Real station.

When the whole length of the railway was working, the section between Puente Genil and Campo Real was shared with the Cordoba to Malaga line, and the Campo Real station was located between the two railway lines. When this section was closed, there was no longer any fork at the station and it was reduced to the Campo Real (Puente Genil) platform.