Bilbao rail network

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Simbolo del Metro de Bilbao.svg Cercanias Logo.svg Euskotren Trena Logo.svg Euskotren Tranbia Logo.svg Simbolo Renfe Feve.svg
Bilbao rail network
Abando vidriera 2011.jpg
Vestibule of the Bilbao Abando railway station, a major interchange
Overview
OwnerConsorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia
Locale Bilbao, Vizcaya
Transit type Metro, Commuter rail, Tram
Website Sistema de transporte público y zonal de Bizkaia (CTB)
Operation
Operator(s) Metro Bilbao, Euskotren (Euskotren Trena and Euskotren Tranbia) and Renfe (Renfe Cercanías and Renfe Feve)
Technical
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) (Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, Renfe Feve)
1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2132 in) (Renfe Cercanías)
System map

Bilboko aldirien sare eguneratua.svg

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 (also including Helsinki and Tallinn) that have both narrow and broad gauge railways without any standard gauge railways.

Contents

It currently consists of thirteen lines, counting those of metro and tram as well as suburban rail; complemented by a wide-covering bus network, as well as other means of transportation including funiculars. The services are offered by different companies, whose activity is coordinated by the Consorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia (Transport Consortium of Bizkaia), which integrates their respective operators and facilitates and encourages their use.

The three major operators of the rail transport network are Metro Bilbao (2 lines), Euskotren (5 Euskotren Trena lines and 1 Euskotren Tranbia line) and Renfe (3 lines of Cercanías Bilbao and 2 of Renfe Feve). The lines converge in the capital and reach six of the seven regions of the province: Arratia-Nervión, Busturialdea-Urdaibai, Duranguesado, Gran Bilbao, Las Encartaciones and Uribe. Thus, the only region without rail lines is Lea-Artibai. Areas that lack rail service are served by Bizkaibus.

Geographically accurate map of Bilbao's rail services Public transport map of Bilbao.png
Geographically accurate map of Bilbao's rail services

Services

Metro Simbolo del Metro de Bilbao.svg Euskotren Trena Logo.svg

Bilbao's first metro line opened in 1995, has been expanded continually over the years and attracted a ridership of 90 million passengers in 2018. [1] Service is provided by two operators; Metro Bilbao (L1, L2) and Euskotren (L3). Interchange between the two operators is provided at Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station.

Schematic map of Metro Bilbao Bilbao Metro Map.svg
Schematic map of Metro Bilbao

Commuter rail

Euskotren Trena Euskotren Trena.png

Euskotren is the designation given to the metre-gauge network owned by the Basque Government. The entire 181.1-kilometre (112.5 mi) network [2] uses 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in) 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. In 2018 the system carried 22,484,083 passengers. [3]

Renfe Cercanías ("Aldiriak") Renfe Aldiriak.svg

Schematic map of Renfe Cercanias Bilbao Renfe aldiriak bilbo.svg
Schematic map of Renfe Cercanías Bilbao

Cercanías Bilbao (Basque: Bilboko Aldiriak) is a commuter rail network in Bilbao, serving the city and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías, as part of Renfe, the national railway company. It consists of three lines, named C-1, C-2 and C-3. All three of them start at Bilbao-Abando station, which is the central station of the city. The service was used by over 10 million passengers in 2017.(2017) [4] Renfe Feve operates two commuter rail lines from Bilbao Concordia station, adjacent to Abando.

Tram Euskotren TR.svg

Euskotren tranbia bilbo.svg

Euskotren operates one tram line of fourteen stops in Bilbao city centre.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renfe Feve</span> Narrow gauge rail transport company of Spain

Renfe Cercanías AM, formerly known as Renfe Feve, is a division of state-owned Spanish railway company Renfe Operadora. It operates most of Spain's 1,250 km (777 mi) of metre-gauge railway. This division of Renfe was previously a stand-alone company named FEVE. On 31 December 2012, the Spanish government simplified the organization of state-owned railway companies by merging FEVE into Renfe and Adif. The rolling stock and the brand FEVE were transferred to Renfe, while the infrastructure was transferred to Adif.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Spain</span> Overview of rail transport in Spain

Rail transport in Spain operates on four rail gauges and services are operated by a variety of private and public operators. The total route length in 2012 was 16,026 km.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euskotren Trena</span> Railway service in the Basque Country, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilbao metro</span> Rapid transit system in Bilbao, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abando</span> District in Basque Country, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cercanías Bilbao</span>

Cercanías Bilbao is a commuter rail network in Bilbao, serving the city and its metropolitan area. It is operated by Cercanías, as part of Renfe, the national railway company. It consists of three lines, named C-1, C-2 and C-3. All three of them start at Bilbao-Abando station, which is the central station of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilbao-Abando railway station</span> Railway station in Bilbao, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilbao-Atxuri station</span> Spanish train station

Bilbao-Atxuri is a former 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolueta (Bilbao metro)</span> Rapid transit station in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo (Bilbao metro)</span> Metro station in Bilbao, Spain

Zazpikaleak/Casco ViejoZazpikaleak 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lutxana (Bilbao metro)</span> Rapid transit station in Erandio, Basque Country, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilbao tram</span> Tram system in the Basque Country, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matiko (Bilbao metro)</span> Railway station in Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cercanías San Sebastián</span> Commuter railway in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain

Cercanías San Sebastián is a double track electrified commuter railway service provided by Renfe Operadora serving the city of San Sebastián in the Basque Country in northern Spain. It complements the San Sebastián Metro network and serves six million passengers a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilbao-Concordia railway station</span> Railway station in Bilbao

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santander railway station</span>

Santander railway station, also known as Santander ADIF to distinguish it from the Santander Feve station, is the main railway station of the Spanish city of Santander, Cantabria. It opened in 1858 and served over 3 million passengers in 2018. The station is actually a complex of two stations, one serving Renfe Iberian-gauge railways, and another adjacent serving FEVE metre-gauge services to Bilbao-Abando and Oviedo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Sebastián railway station</span>

San Sebastián railway station, also known as Donostia-San Sebastián or Estación del Norte is the main railway station of the Spanish city of San Sebastián, Basque Country. It served over 2 million passengers in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barik card</span>

Barik is rechargeable contactless smart card, electronic money used for public transport in Biscay (Spain).

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.

References

  1. "Metro Bilbao cierra 2018 con "récord histórico"de viajeros. Deia, Noticias de Bizkaia". Deia (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  2. "Inicio - Corporativo - Información Corporativa - Euskotren Trena - Trenes" [Home - Corporate - Corporate Information - Euskotren Trena - Trains] (in Spanish). Eskotren Trena. Archived from the original on 2014-05-19. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  3. "Euskotren sigue creciendo en todas sus unidades operativas | Euskotren". www.euskotren.eus. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  4. "Los trenes de cercanías van casi vacíos y apenas superan la cifra de usuarios de hace diez años". 11 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2019.