Euskotren Tranbia | |
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Overview | |
Locale | Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) |
Transit type | Tram |
Annual ridership | |
Headquarters |
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Website | www |
Operation | |
Began operation |
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Operator(s) | Euskotren |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge |
Electrification | 750 V DC overhead catenary |
Euskotren Tranbia [lower-alpha 1] is the brand under which the tramway networks in the cities of Vitoria-Gasteiz and Bilbao (both in the Basque Country) are run. The system in Bilbao started operations in 2002, and the one in Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2008. It is one of the four commercial divisions under which Euskotren (a public company managed by the Basque Government) operates. The infrastructure is owned by the public entity Euskal Trenbide Sarea (Basque Railway Network) [4] and tracks use 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) narrow gauge.[ citation needed ]
Euskotren Tranbia operates tram networks in Vitoria-Gasteiz (province of Álava) and Bilbao (province of Biscay). The first network, then named EuskoTran started operations in Bilbao in 2002 after two years under construction, connecting Bilbao-Atxuri Station with Uribitarte. [5] The line was eventually expanded to the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, [6] Basurto Hospital [7] and finally La Casilla. [8]
The tramway system in Vitoria-Gasteiz opened in 2008 and has a Y-shaped network, with two different lines that cross the city from south to north. [9]
Trams run on the street (shared with other traffic or on dedicated tracks) and on grass tracks.[ citation needed ] It also shares dedicated lanes with the local bus services, TUVISA in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Bilbobus in Bilbao.[ citation needed ]
The two tram systems have their own, distinguishable stops, some of them shared with bus systems and with low platforms. The stops of Atxuri, Ribera and Abando, all of them in Bilbao, do not have a dedicated platform, they use the sidewalk. Except for Atxuri, all stops are unstaffed and rely on automated ticket machines. All the stations have displays and screens with the network map, the current time and temperature and the frequencies. Due to the low platforms, the access between them involves crossing the tracks by pedestrian level crossing. They are virtually level with the doors and are all wider than 2 m (6.6 ft). This allows wheelchairs, prams, pushchairs and the elderly to board the tram easily with no steps. In street sections, the pavement is integrated with the tram stop.[ citation needed ] The system in Bilbao has 14 stops, while the one in Vitoria has 23. [10]
The two systems use both regular paper tickets and smartcards (BAT, Barik and Mugi). There are single, daily and monthly tickets available. [11] In both networks, ticket pricing is not based on zone-based rules, as there's a unique fare for the whole of each network.
Euskotren Tranbia operates a fleet of 26 CAF Urbos trams, distributed between both networks.
Class | Image | Number | Network | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
400 series (CAF Urbos 1) | 8 | Bilbao | 2002–present | ||
500 series (CAF Urbos 2) | 11 | Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz | 2008–present | 3 in Bilbao [12] 8 in Vitoria-Gasteiz | |
600 series (CAF Urbos 3) | 7 | Vitoria-Gasteiz | 2020–present |
The 400 series consists of 8 vehicles (numbered 401-408), [13] built for the Bilbao network. The trams are 24.4 m (80 ft) long, have 70% low floor access and are made up of three cars. Each tram can carry 196 passengers. [14] They are the only CAF Urbos 1 trams to have been built. [15]
The 500 series consists of 11 vehicles (numbered 501-511), originally built for the Vitoria-Gasteiz network. [16] The trams are 31.4 m (103 ft) long, have 100% low floor access and are made up of five cars. Each tram can carry 261 passengers. [17] Due to the introduction of the larger 600 series in Vitoria-Gasteiz, three vehicles will be transferred to Bilbao. [18]
The 600 series consists of 7 vehicles [12] [19] (numbered 601-607), built for the Vitoria-Gasteiz network. The trams are 44.2 m (145 ft) long, have 100% low floor access and are made up of seven cars. Each tram can carry 398 passengers. [17]
The trams were originally painted in grey and green stripes, the colours of Euskotren Tranbia. The current livery is white and green.[ citation needed ]
There were plans to create a tram network in the municipality of Barakaldo, in the Greater Bilbao area, which would have started in Urbinaga (where it would have been connected to the Leioa tram) and from there create a circular line around the city center. The project included fifteen stops within Barakaldo plus two in Sestao, where it would connect with the Leioa line.[ citation needed ] Even if this project hasn't been officially canceled, no progress has been made since 2010. [20]
The construction of a tramway for the municipality of Leioa, in the Greater Bilbao area had two phases. The first phase consisted in the construction of the depot and offices. The second phase would have involved the line itself including the rail track and stops from the University of the Basque Country campus to downtown Leioa. It would have included nine stops. A third phase would have made the tramway cross the Estuary of Bilbao and connect Leioa with the Left Bank with two extra stations.[ citation needed ]
Only the first phase (the depot and offices) has been built. After being postponed several times, the project was shelved in 2018. [21]
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.
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The University of the Basque Country is a Spanish public university of the Basque Autonomous Community.
Bilbobus is the name for metropolitan bus services in Bilbao.
The Basque Country, also called the Basque Autonomous Community, is an autonomous community in northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa. It also surrounds an enclave called Treviño, which belongs to the neighboring autonomous community of Castile and León.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
Euskotren operates frequent commuter rail services in the city of San Sebastián and the surrounding Donostialdea area, in the Basque Country, Spain. The infrastructure is gradually being upgraded to rapid transit standards, in order to create the San Sebastián Metro. The line is commonly known as Topo, due to the large number of tunnels present. As of 2021, the San Sebastián suburban rail services are branded as part of the Euskotren Trena network, with no separate identity.
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The Vitoria-Gasteiz tram is a tram system in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain. It is operated by Euskotren under the brand Euskotren Tranbia. Inaugurated on 23 December 2008, it comprises two lines totaling 11.9 km (7.4 mi).
Euskal Trenbide Sarea, commonly known by its acronym ETS, is a railway infrastructure manager operating in the Basque Country, Spain. The company was formed in 2004, but the railway infrastructure it operates was transferred from Euskotren in 2006. It is a member of the International Union of Railways.
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.