| Euskotren Tranbia | |
|---|---|
 | |
 A400 series tram in Bilbao. | |
| Overview | |
| Locale | Bilbao,Vitoria-Gasteiz (Basque Country) |
| Transit type | Tram |
| Annual ridership | |
| Headquarters |
|
| Website | www |
| Operation | |
| Began operation |
|
| Operator(s) | Euskotren |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)metre gauge |
| Electrification | 750VDCoverhead catenary |
Euskotren Tranbia[a] is the brand under which thetramway networks in the cities ofVitoria-Gasteiz andBilbao (both in theBasque 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 whichEuskotren (a public company managed by theBasque Government) operates. The infrastructure is owned by the public entityEuskal Trenbide Sarea (Basque Railway Network)[4] and tracks use1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)narrow gauge.[citation needed]
Euskotren Tranbia operates tram networks inVitoria-Gasteiz (province ofÁlava) andBilbao (province ofBiscay). The first network, then namedEuskoTran started operations inBilbao in 2002 after two years under construction, connectingBilbao-Atxuri Station with Uribitarte.[5] The line was eventually expanded to theGuggenheim Museum Bilbao,[6] Basurto Hospital[7] and finally La Casilla.[8]
The tramway system inVitoria-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 andBilbobus 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 ofAtxuri, 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 andMugi). 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 26CAF 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 ofEuskotren Tranbia. The current livery is white and green.[citation needed]
There were plans to create a tram network in the municipality ofBarakaldo, in theGreater 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 inSestao, 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 ofLeioa, in theGreater 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 theUniversity of the Basque Country campus to downtown Leioa. It would have included nine stops. A third phase would have made the tramway cross theEstuary of Bilbao and connect Leioa with theLeft 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]
Transport in and aroundBilbao | |
|---|---|
 Metro Bilbao lines | |
 Euskotren Trena lines | |
 Cercanías Bilbao lines | |
 Euskotren Tranbia | |
| Funiculars | |
| Bus services | |
| Major terminals | |
| Miscellaneous |
|
