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Bilbao
Trams, Metro & Trains
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This page is devoted to postcards and photographs of Bilbao urban rail transport - tramway, metro and local trains.
EuskoTren
run two separate metre-gauge systems from Bilbao. Lines 1 and 3 run from Atxuri in Bilbao to Donostria (San Sebastian) and Bermeo. Line 4 is unconnected and runs from Deustu in Bilbao to Lezama. In 2002 the metre-gauge tramway
EuskoTran
opened, also run by
EuskoTren
. This is known a tram Line A, but is also Line 7 on the
EuskoTren
system.
EuskoTran
starts at the
EuskoTren
terminus Atxuri, and links it to tourist centres such as the Guggenheim, but also links the various railway systems with connections to
RENFE
,
FEVE
and the
Metro
at Abando and San Mamés,
FEVE
at the other tram terminus Bastuto, and
EuskoTren
Line 4 at Arriga.
FEVE
run a metre-gauge system along the coast all the way to Ferrol via Gijon, Oviedo etc from their own terminus at Abando, adjacent to the main
RENFE
terminus. All operators use the metre gauge except
RENFE
(1668mm).
On the adjacent map,
EuskoTren
is blue,
Metro
lines are red (Line 1) and purple (Line 2),
FEVE
is yellow,
RENFE
is orange and the tramway
EuskoTran
is green (Basurto extenison not shown).
Click on the map to open a larger image in a new window
Contacts
EuskoTren Route Map
- PDF File (700kb) - Requires Adobe Reader
EuskoTran Tourist Guide
- PDF File (9Mb) - Requires Adobe Reader (Spanish & Basque only)
EuskoTran 179-Page Book
- PDF File (10Mb) - Requires Adobe Reader (Spanish & Basque only)
www.euskotren.es/euskotran/
- official Euskotran (tramway) website (English)
www.euskotren.es/euskotren2/
- official Euskotren (trains) website (Spanish & Basque only)
www.metrobilbao.com
- official Metro website (English)
Sections on this Page:-
Metro Bilbao
EuskoTran
EuskoTren
FEVE
RENFE
Associated Pages:-
Oceana at Bilbao
- Cruise on P&O's Oceana to Bilbao in 2007
Bilbao Trams, Metro & Trains
- this page!
Tramways Header Page
Barcelona Trams
Lisbon Trams
Naples Trams
Rome Trams
Simplon Postcards Home Page
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Bilbao
EuskoTran
Bilbao Tramway - Tranbia Bilbao
Trams returned to Bilbao on December 18th, 2002 between Atxuri and Uribitarte, with six stops: Atxuri – Ribera – Arriaga – Abando – Pío Baroja – Uribitarte. Subsequent extensions were opened to San Mamés and finally to Basurto. This constitutes Line A, and further lines are promised.
The initial seven trams 401-407 were built by C.A.F. (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A.) and the first was delivered on 8th May 2002. The trams are double-ended and have 4 access and exit doors on each side. The units are 25 metres long. Each unit has been designed to transport 192 persons, of which 50 will be seated. An eight tram 408 was later supplied by the builders CAF wih all axles powered - the first seven vehicles were powered on their end bogies only.
The units include double air-conditioning systems as well as a centralised public address system to broadcast music (a mixture of light classical and folk music - irritating!), information on the next stop and special messages. There are two electronic information panels to provide data on the next stop and other information. Each unit has 10 security cameras with an image storage system.
Links to other systems are shown on the
EuskoTren Route Map
(PDF File - Require Adobe Reader (700kb))
Tram 401
Tram 401 at the Guggenheim
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 at the Guggenheim
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 at Euskalduna
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 at Euskalduna
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 at the Basurto terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 at the Basurto terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 at the Basurto terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 at Abando, where connections to the Metro, RENFE and FEVE are possible
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 401 interior
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 403
Tram 403 at Abando, where connections to the Metro, RENFE and FEVE are possible
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 403 at Abando
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 403 at Abando
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 403 at Abando
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 404
Tram 404 at the Guggenheim
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 404 at the At
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 404 at the Atxuri terminus - also the main EuskoTren terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 404 leaving the Atxuri terminus - also the main EuskoTren terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 404 leaving the Atxuri terminus - also the main EuskoTren terminus
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 404 at the Arriaga
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 405
Tram 405 at the Guggenheim
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 405 at the Guggenheim
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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Tram 405 at the Guggenheim
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 30th May 2007
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EuskoTren
EuskoTren runs two separate metre-gauge systems from Bilbao. Lines 1 and 3 run from Atxuri in Bilbao to Donostria (San Sebastian) and Bermeo. Line 4 is physically unconnected from the rest of the system, and runs from Deustu in Bilbao to Lezama. The sections were separated in 1969 when the Matiko (Line 4) to Azbarren (Line 1 - since closed) link was severed by a massive land slip. Some of this link section has since been used for Metro Bilbao. There are plans to re-link Line 4 to the rest of the system with a new line from Casco Viejo to Etxebarri on Line 1. The EuskoTren section from Atxuri to Etxebarri would then be replaced by an extension to the EuskoTran tramway, partially using the trackbed.
EuskoTren has 189 km of electrified lines between Bilbao, Donostria and Hendaye, originally built by a number of independent companies. The three companies which owned the sections between Bilbao and Donostria merged to become the Compapnia de los FFCC Vascongados (FV) in 1906. FV electrified the Bilbao-Donostria section in 1929 to increase capacity. Initial locos were ten Belgian-built 'crocodiles' (1-10) of 565 kW. One has been retained as a museum loco. Four box cab locos (11-14) built by CAF joined them in 1930/31, followed by three very similar locos (15-17) from ASEA in 1950. I will add postcards of some of these locos soon. Four of the later locos (12, 15-17) have been retained and were listed as operational in 2001.
Vascongados passed to FEVE (Ferrocarriles de Via Estrecha) in 1965, along with all the connecting lines through to Ferrol. In 1979, the lines east of Bilbao were taken out of FEVE's hands to be controlled by the local Basque government, becoming ET/FV ( Eusko Trenbidaek/Ferrocarriles Vascos) in 1982. The name was changed to EuskoTren in 1996. The eastern section of line from Donostria to Hendaye in France was run by SEFT (Sociedad Explotadora de Ferrocarriles y Tranvias) became part of FEVE in 1973, also subsequently passing to ET/FV and EuskoTren. The
Class 300
units were built for this line, but were later replaced by
Class 200
units.
A 2007 route map is available at:
EuskoTren Route Map
(PDF File (700kb) - Require Adobe Reader). See
www.euskotren.es/euskotren2/
for the latest updates on Euskotren, including rolling stock photos.
Historic Locos and Railcars
FV No.7 'crocodile' at Zumaya
One of the series 1-10 built by Brown-Boveri in 1928 for the electrification between Donostria and Bilbao
EUROFER postcard 165 - Photo: © Santiago Mas Fatjo, 1976
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FV No.13 at Bilbao Atxuri
One of the series 11-14 built by CAF/ASEA in 1931 the Donostria-Bilbao route
EUROFER postcard 243 - Photo: © Moises Martinez
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FV automotor MCD-3 at Bilbao Atxuri
Built by Ganz 1928 for the electrification between Donostria and Bilbao
EUROFER postcard 191 - Photo: © Santiago Mas Fatjo, 1979
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