Traveling from Zaragoza to Sarria seems like a pain or should I say that every time I hear Madrid Atocha, I say a silent pray and tell myself “Please not again”. Yes, personally I do not have much positive vibes towards Madrid Atocha as it felt like a taboo lurking in the dark waiting to pounce.
Safe after 5 years of break? I don’t think so… To be honest, I am not sure if I should be laughing or crying over this incident.
Comedy of Error
Madrid Atocha security intend to maintain very high standard of security – luggage need to be scanned and passengers need to walk through the metal-detector before allowed access to the departure lounge. We just alighted from our train from Zaragoza and need to transfer to another train to Sarria.
Yes, you are reading it right. It is just a transit and cargo luggage scanning is on high priority. It gives me the impression of real-life enactment of “Murder on Orient Express” or “Under Siege 2” 
The security camera indicated that I had a knife in my luggage and the train security questioned me in private and asked to see the knife. I was in fact carrying only a fruit knife in its sheath wrapped together with a mini cutting board in my luggage.
I fought hard to hold my laughter as images of myself in “Murder on Orient Express” started popping up in my head. I recall using the fruit knife at our hotel in Nerja attempting to cut an orange. I ended up having to peel apart the orange instead. Such a blunt knife, I am not sure if it was brought to aide drawing straight line or for its proper usage 
The security officers even thought I am a chef and asked for my credentials 
Why am I carrying a fruit knife? Basically, after having traveled to various locations and stayed in various accommodations, I have learnt that not all places would provide a good knife for cutting fruits. For example in Singapore, a man wanted to charge me SGD5.00 just to cut my apples for me when I am only buying a large apple for SGD1.20 for 3 persons to share.
The approved length of the blade is 6cm from the point to the heel. My fruit knife is slightly beyond 6cm and therefore, was confiscated and discarded.
Yes, even though it was tucked deep in my triple-locked cargo bag, the security personnel were concerned that I would open my luggage in the train at mid-journey to go on a psychopathic killing spree
The security officers showed me this sign to illustrate the style and length of knife permissible. I almost crack up into laughter. I am now given the impression that a pocket flick knife is recommended as compared to a small fruit knife in its sheath.
Goodness Gracious, this sounds like “Knife anatomy 101” Great that I am not emotionally attached to the fruit knife so no hard feelings, bye bye fruit knife.
Boarding the train was not an issue except that we got Coach 1 in the train. The most unfortunate thing is that the “intelligent” train conductor stored a manual disabled lift in the luggage compartment of our coach. It took up the storage space of 8 medium to large cargo luggage. Great.. smarty pants 
Mooo…
Passing through meadows, hills and mountains were awesome. It didn’t bother me much with my backpack becoming a permanent fixture on my lap and my luggage sharing my feet room. What bothers me is that the passenger in the seat in front was dying to tilt the seat as far back as possible or probably finding my lap looking comfortable that she too wanted to sleep on my lap 
Don’t you hate it when announcement is in only Spanish? It did not bother me until at Ourense when many passengers gathered their belongings and alighted. Wow, we had the whole carriage to ourselves for the remaining journey to Sarria. It felt good… Think again… Taboo…
The train master came to inform us in Spain-glish that the remaining journey will be by bus. We need to alight and make our way to the awaiting buses to continue our journey. Ah.. now it explains the rush to alight. Goodness, anymore of this surprises and train-bus hopping, I will definitely be holding onto my pants when I return to work
Note: Traveling from Madrid Atocha to Sarria or Lugo and vice versa, it depends on the time of the day if the journey will be fully by train or partially by bus. The information will be available on the Schedule board on the day of your travel.
Morale of the Story: Keep alert and stay awake. You certainly do not want to wake up with no passengers or driver on a stationary train 
. If most of your fellow passengers start reaching for their luggage to disembark quickly, try asking someone what is going on. Not all notifications are in English.