Euskotren Tranbia

Last updated
Euskotren Tranbia
Euskotren Tranbia.svg
Bilbao Euskotran 404.jpg
A 400 series tram in Bilbao.
Overview
Locale Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country, Spain)
Transit type Tram
Annual ridership
  • 3 million (Bilbao, 2018) [1]
  • 8 million (Vitoria-Gasteiz, 2018) [2]
Headquarters
Website www.euskotren.eus/en/tranvia
Operation
Began operation
  • 2002 (Bilbao)
  • 2008 (Vitoria-Gasteiz)
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, Spain) 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 ]

Contents

Services

Tram in Bilbao. Bilbao 05 2012 EuskoTran 2868.JPG
Tram in Bilbao.

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 ]

Stop design

Tram unit in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Vitoria 05 2012 EuskoTran 1845.JPG
Tram unit in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

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]

Systems

The service was formerly branded as EuskoTran. Euskotran logo.gif
The service was formerly branded as EuskoTran.

Bilbao

Vitoria-Gasteiz

Fares and ticketing

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.

Rolling stock

Euskotren Tranbia operates a fleet of 26 CAF Urbos trams, distributed between both networks.

Current fleet

ClassImageNumberNetworkIn serviceNotes
400 series (CAF Urbos 1) Tram in Bilbao.jpg 8 Bilbao 2002–present
500 series (CAF Urbos 2) Euskotran vitoria 1.jpg 11 Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz 2008–present3 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]

Livery

The trams were originally painted in grey and green stripes, the colours of Euskotren Tranbia. The current livery is white and green.[ citation needed ]

Planned developments

Bilbao

Vitoria-Gasteiz

Shelved projects

Barakaldo tram

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]

Leioa tram

The proposed Leioa tram. Plano euskotran leioa.png
The proposed Leioa tram.

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]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Formerly known as EuskoTran, short for Eusko Tranbia. In 2012, the commercial brand changed from EuskoTran to Euskotren Tranbia, with the word tranbia being Basque for "tram". [3]

Related Research Articles

<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">Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles</span> Spanish railway and bus manufacturing company

Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a Spanish publicly listed company which manufactures railway vehicles and equipment and buses through its Solaris Bus & Coach subsidiary. It is based in Beasain, Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. Equipment manufactured by Grupo CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any existing truck or bogie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basque Country (autonomous community)</span> Autonomous community of Spain

The Basque Country, also called 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.

<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 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.

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

Leioa is a station on line 1 of the Bilbao metro. It is located in the neighborhood of Udondo, in the municipality of Leioa. The station opened as part of the metro on 11 November 1995, replacing an older station. It is located next to a park and ride facility.

<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">San Sebastián Metro</span> Rapid transit/commuter rail system in San Sebastián, Spain

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euskotren 3150 series</span> Railcar operated by Euskotren

The Euskotren 3150 series is a railcar train type formerly operated by Euskotren in the Basque Country, Spain. Originally built in the 1960s by Ferrocarriles Vascongados, the series was retired from passenger service in 1997. A refurbished unit, known as Trenbiker, is operated by Euskal Trenbide Sarea as a track geometry car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Euskal Trenbide Sarea</span> Railway infrastructure manager in the Basque Country, Spain

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.

Forua is a railway station in Forua, Basque Country, Spain. It is owned by Euskal Trenbide Sarea and operated by Euskotren. It lies on the Urdaibai line.

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. ↑ "El tranvía de Bilbao se prepara para poder operar con unidades más largas". Deia.eus (in Spanish). 27 April 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  2. ↑ "El tranvía de Vitoria cumple 10 años con el 90% de los viajeros satisfecheos". Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 21 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  3. ↑ "What is Euskotren?". euskotren.eus. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  4. ↑ Euskal Trenbide Sarea - Memoria 2019 (PDF). euskadi.eus (Report) (in Spanish). p. 138. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  5. ↑ Eguinoa, Aitor (18 December 2002). "El tranvía se inaugura hoy en Bilbao 47 años después de su desaparición". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Programa tranviario: tranvía de Bilbao, tranvía de Vitoria-Gasteiz, tranvía Urbinaga-Leioa-Universidad, tranvía del Deba". euskadi.eus (in Spanish). Basque Government. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "El tranvía de Bilbao llega a San Mamés aunque se mantiene su escaso uso". El País (in Spanish). 25 July 2003. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "El tranvía de Bilbao está de cumpleaños". El Mundo (in Spanish). EFE. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  9. ↑ "Travelling by tram - Timetables and routes". Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  10. ↑ "Así es el recorrido de la nueva ampliación del tranvía hasta el Campus Universitario". EITB (in Spanish). 17 February 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Tickets". euskotren.eus. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Material móvil". euskotren.eus (in Spanish). 19 March 2021.
  13. ↑ Peris Torner, Juan (12 February 2015). "Tranvías de Bilbao, desde 2003 (tranvía de la 2ª generación)". Spanish Railway (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "Bilbao tram". CAF. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Urbos3, la nueva generación de tranvías" (PDF). Vía Libre (in Spanish). May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-24. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  16. ↑ Peris Torner, Juan (8 August 2014). "Tranvias de Vitoria-Euskotren Trambia". Spanish Railway (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Vitoria tram". CAF. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  18. ↑ "Los tranvías largos circularán por Bilbao en abril de 2020". Deia (in Spanish). 3 October 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  19. ↑ Bravo, Oier (19 March 2021). "Vitoria-Gasteiz ya tiene sus siete tranvías extralargos". GasteizHoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  20. ↑ Segovia, Josu (17 February 2016). "Tranvía en vía muerta". Cadena SER (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  21. ↑ Basterra, Terry (22 February 2018). "El Parlamento aprueba estudiar otras alternativas al tranvía de Leioa para conectar el metro y la UPV". El Correo (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.