Bilbao-Atxuri | |
---|---|
Commuter rail | |
![]() Station's building | |
General information | |
Location | 6, Atxuri St. 48006 Bilbao Spain |
Coordinates | 43°15′13″N2°55′18″W / 43.25361°N 2.92167°W |
Owned by | Euskal Trenbide Sarea (ETS) |
Line(s) | Bilbao tram |
Platforms | 2 island platforms |
Tracks | 4 |
Connections | Bus |
Construction | |
Structure type | At-grade station |
Platform levels | 1 |
Parking | No |
Accessible | Yes |
Other information | |
Fare zone | Zone 1 |
History | |
Opened | 1912 |
Bilbao-Atxuri is a former [1] [2] terminal railway station in Bilbao, Basque Country (Spain). It served as the terminus station for the commuter rail trains of Euskotren Trena lines to Durango, Bermeo, Eibar and Donostia for over one hundred years.
Currently, one side of the station serves as the southern terminus of the Bilbao tram operated by Euskotren Tranbia. The station is located in the neighbourhood of Atxuri, part of the Ibaiondo district, in Bilbao. The main building of the former station serves as headquarters for Euskotren. It opened in 1912.
The station of Bilbao-Atxuri, originally known simply as Achuri station, was designed by Basque-Irish architect Manuel María Smith. [3] The station opened in 1912 and was built to replace a smaller former station that stood originally in the same place. The original station had been designed by Basque architect Sabino Goicoechea as the head of line of the Bilbao-Durango railway, operated by the Compañía del Ferrocarril Central de Vizcaya (Central Railway of Biscay Company). In 1906 the company was acquired by the Ferrocarriles Vascongados (Basque Country Railways), which meant the station would also become the start of line for services running to Elgoibar, San Sebastián, Zumarraga and other cities and towns across Gipuzkoa. [4] This expansion required a bigger station, which Ferrocarriles Vascongados commissioned and was opened in 1912. The new building would not only hold the terminus station of the railway services, but also the headquarters of the Ferrocarriles Vascongados, as well as a bell tower, something unusual at the time.
Under Ferrocarriles Vascongados, Achuri station served as the terminus station of services to Bermeo and San Sebastián, with connections towards Elorrio, Zumarraga and Vitoria-Gasteiz along the line. In 1977 the entire Ferrocarriles Vascongados network would become part of FEVE, the state-owned company for narrow-gauge railways, which was soon thereafter transferred to the Basque Government to form Euskotren in 1982. The station was then renamed Bilbao-Atxuri, following the modern conventions of Basque orthography. In 1983 the station suffered extensive damage on its lower floor due to a flooding of the Bilbao estuary, which also destroyed the train depots.
The station remained unchanged until the year 2002, when due to the opening of the Bilbao tram new depots fit for tramways were constructed, as well as a tram stop in one of the sides. After the opening of the Line 3 of Metro Bilbao in 2017, it was announced that all services operated by Euskotren Trena would be diverted towards the more centric station of Zazpikaleak, putting an end to the railway activity of the station. The transfer of railway line was progressive until September 2019, when the last line was transferred. [1] Since then the station holds no railway activity and serves only as the headquarters of the Basque Railways.
Nevertheless, one side of the station is used as the southern terminus of Bilbao's Tramway. In the future, works are expected to take place inside the station's building, as the tramway line is expected to be extended all the way to Kukullaga. The renewal works are expected to begin in late 2019. [5]
The station is an at-grade station with a large entrance facing Atxuri street. The main hall of the station is spacious and includes ticketing machines a waiting area as well as a small store. During the times as part of Ferrocarriles Vascongados it also included a restaurant. [4] The station also serves the southern terminus for the Bilbao tram, including an at-grade platform and single track on one side of the building. The main hall also includes access to the headquarters of the Basque Railways (located on the upper floors) and to the main train platforms. Since the closure of the station in September 2019, the main building is not accessible by the public.
When the station first opened in 1912 it served as the terminus for the Bilbao-Durango railway, and new services to other Basque cities were included after the merging of several railway companies to create the Ferrocarriles Vascongados. After the creation of Euskotren, Bilbao-Atxuri served as the terminus station for all commuter and regional rail services offered by EuskoTren, including the former lines 1, 1D and 3, connecting to the cities of San Sebastián, Gernika, Eibar and others. [6] After the opening of Metro Bilbao's Line 3, operated by Euskotren Trena, the trains coming from all destinations except from the Urdaibai line were rerouted through the new underground route that connects directly with Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station in central Bilbao from Kukullaga, bypassing Bolueta and Atxuri stations completely. [7]
Bilbao-Atxuri is the southern terminus of the Bilbao tram, a light rail tram connecting the district of Ibaiondo, mainly the old town, with Abando, the Guggenheim museum and the San Mamés area. The tramway line was opened in December, 2002.
The station is served by the following local Bilbobus services. A 'G' in the line name denotes a Gautxori night line service.
The station is also served by the following regional Bizkaibus services, running to other municipalities within the Bilbao metropolitan area or elsewhere in Biscay.
After the opening of the Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station for Euskotren Trena, most commuter trains coming from inner Biscay and Gipuzkoa were diverted toward the newer, more centric station, in consequence leaving Bilbao-Atxuri station with little commuter rail traffic. While the original operational plan for Euskotren Trena involved the diversion of all E4 trains coming from Gernika and Bermeo to the new station in early 2018, the changes were delayed at least until 2019 to avoid leaving the commuter rail section of the station without any services, which in turn would also affect Bolueta station. [8] The Basque Government and the administration of the rail network, Euskal Trenbide Sarea (ETS), announced in 2003 the intention of transforming the rail road section between Bilbao-Atxuri, Bolueta and Etxebarri into a tramway line, thus continuing the existing Bilbao tramway service which currently has its terminus at Bilbao-Atxuri, however not many actions have been taken towards this objective. In early 2017 the plan was brought back by the administration and some studies were conducted [9] The renewal works were commissioned in November 2019. [10]
Euskotren Trena, formerly known just as Euskotren is a commuter, inter-city and urban transit train-operating company that operates local and inter-city passenger services in the provinces of Biscay and Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, Spain. It is one of the four commercial brands under which Euskotren operates, as a public company managed by the Basque government. The entire 181.1-kilometre (112.5 mi) network uses 1,000 mm narrow gauge rail tracks which have been owned by the Basque Government since their transferral from the Spanish government; the rail tracks and stations were part of the FEVE network until its transferral. Euskotren Trena also operates the Donostia/San Sebastián metro under the brand Metro Donostialdea.
The Bilbao metro is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Lines 1 and 2 have a "Y" shape, as they transit both banks of the river Ibaizabal and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao. Line 3 has a "V" shape connecting the municipality of Etxebarri with the Bilbao neighbourhood of Matiko; the apex of the "V" is Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station, where all three current lines meet. The metro is connected with the Bilbao tram, Bilboko Aldiriak, Euskotren Trena, Feve, Renfe long-distance trains, and Bilbao's bus station. All three lines use metre gauge.
Etxebarri, Doneztebeko Elizatea is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Basque Community, in the North of Spain.
Abando, formerly known as San Vicente de Abando, is one of the eight districts of Bilbao, Basque Country (Spain). It covers most of the city's centre, located on the left bank of the estuary of Bilbao. It is the only district of Bilbao with all of its land completely urbanised. Abando was originally an elizate and also a municipality until 1876, when part of it was annexed to Bilbao, the rest of the elizate's municipal land was integrated into Bilbao in 1890. In 2016 the population was 50,903. Abando is the wealthiest district in Bilbao, with personal and family incomes being well above the citywide average.
Bilbobus is the name for metropolitan bus services in Bilbao.
The Abando Indalecio Prieto railway station, usually known simply as Bilbao-Abando and previously known as Estación del Norte is a terminal railway station in Bilbao, Basque Country (Spain). The name comes from Abando, the district in which the station is located, and Indalecio Prieto, who was Minister of Public Works during the Second Spanish Republic. The station serves as the terminus station for several long and medium distance services operated by Renfe as well as commuter rail services within the Bilbao metropolitan area operated by Cercanías. The station has direct access to Metro Bilbao and to the tram, as well as many local and regional bus lines. The railway station Bilbao-Concordia, operated by Renfe Feve is located in close proximity. After the construction of the high-speed line Basque Y is finished, Bilbao-Abando will serve as the western terminus, which will involve the creation of a completely new station replacing the current one.
Euskotren, formally known as Basque Railways, is a public railway company controlled by the Basque Government and officially established in 1982 to operate several 1,000 mm narrow gauge railways inside the autonomous community of the Basque Country, under the terms of the Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country. Originally operating under the commercial brand ET/FV, it took control of the management and operations of the narrow gauge lines formerly operated by the railway company FEVE. The commercial brand eventually changed to Euskotren, as it remains today. Since 2006, the infrastructure on which the company runs its trains has been owned by Euskal Trenbide Sarea.
Bolueta is a station on lines 1 and 2 of the Bilbao metro. The station is located in the neighborhood of the same name, in the district of Begoña. It opened on 5 July 1997.
Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo – Zazpikaleak and Casco Viejo – is a railway station in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. It is located in the historical neighborhood of Casco Viejo, in the district of Ibaiondo. It links the Bilbao metro rapid transit services with the Euskotren Trena commuter rail network. It is the main railway hub for trips between the metropolitan underground network and the railway services to Eibar, Gernika, Bermeo and San Sebastián as well as the Txorierri valley. The original metro station opened on 11 November 1995, and on 8 April 2017 in its current form.
Lutxana is a station of line 1 of Metro Bilbao, also served by the Lutxana-Sondika shuttle operated by Euskotren Trena. It is located in the neighbourhood of Lutxana-Enekuri, in the municipality of Erandio. In its current inception, the station was opened on 11 November 1995. Since 2015, the station has also been served by Euskotren Trena suburban trains.
The Bilbao tram is a tram system in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain. Operated by Euskotren under the brand Euskotren Tranbia, it comprises a single 7.8 km (4.8 mi) line, inaugurated on 18 December 2002 and last extended on 25 March 2022.
Line 3 of the Bilbao metro is a rapid transit line in Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. It is 5.9 km (3.7 mi) long and connects Etxebarri and the Uribarri and Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga districts in Bilbao with the city center.
Kukullaga is the southern terminus of line 3 of the Bilbao metro. The station is also served by Euskotren Trena commuter and regional rail services. The station is located in the neighborhood of Kukullaga, in the municipality of Etxebarri, which is part of the Bilbao metropolitan area. It is one of two metro stations in Etxebarri, the other one being Etxebarri. It opened on 8 April 2017.
Matiko is the northern terminus of line 3 of the Bilbao metro. The station is also served by Euskotren Trena commuter and regional rail services. The station is located in the neighbourhood of Matiko-Ciudad Jardín, part of the Uribarri district of Bilbao. In its current form, the station opened on 8 April 2017.
The Spanish city of Bilbao contains a dense urban rail network served by multiple operators, track gauges and types. It is one of a very small number of cities that have both narrow and broad gauge railways without any standard gauge railways.
The Bilbao-Concordia railway station, also known as La Concordia Station, and formerly and colloquially known as Santander Station, is a terminal railway station in Bilbao, Basque Country (Spain). The station was opened in 1902 and currently serves as the terminus station for several narrow-gauge regional and metropolitan railway services operated by Renfe Feve, a division of the state-owned Spanish railway company Renfe. The Bilbao-Abando railway station, also operated by Renfe and that offers medium and long-distance services is located in close proximity.
The Urdaibai line, also known as the Amorebieta–Bermeo railway is a 29.19 km (18.14 mi) mostly single-track branchline in Biscay, Basque Country. Owned by Euskal Trenbide Sarea, it runs from Bermeo to Amorebieta, connecting with the Bilbao-San Sebastián mainline.
The Lutxana–Sondika line is a single-track branchline in Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. Owned by Euskal Trenbide Sarea, it runs from Lutxana to Sondika, connecting line 1 of the Bilbao metro with the Txorierri line. It is a remnant of the former Lutxana–Mungia line, which was partially closed in May 1975.
Euskotren is a public railway operator in the Basque Country, Spain. Its rolling stock is formed by electrical multiple units used for Euskotren Trena commuter rail services, trams running on the Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz tramway networks, and locomotives for hauling freight trains.
The Txorierri line, also known as the Bilbao–Lezama railway is a narrow-gauge railway in Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. Owned by Euskal Trenbide Sarea, it runs from Lezama to Matiko, from where it continues as line 3 of the Bilbao metro.