News

Line A of the Bilbao Tram Service has reached Basurto

22/07/04 - Today, EuskoTran, the Bilbao Tram Service, is opening the complete route of Line A, as part of the process to implement this method of transport in the capital of Biscay. Now, it will be possible to cover the distance between Atxuri and Basurto in less than 20 minutes on board a fast, comfortable and modern vehicle.

The section that is being opened today covers a distance of 550 metres and brings this method of transport to the neighbourhood of Basurto, one of the strategic objectives of the Bilbao Tram Programme. This new section will cater for an area that concentrates several busy points such as Basurto Hospital, the Hacienda Foral building (Regional Treasury), the Industrial Engineering Faculty as well as other offices and industrial installations in the surrounding area, including the San Mamés Stadium.

Although, technically, Line A is only being extended by one stop (there are now 12 stops including Basurto compared with the previous 11), really two stops have been opened. San Mamés, until now the end of the line, had a provisional stop at the beginning of Zunzunegui Avenue, which catered for trams that arrived and departed. The new stop has been moved about 50 metres towards the old Fair Grounds and has been provided with a shelter for each direction.

The new San Mamés stop has been integrated into the future inter-modal station, as its access is next to the main entrance hall to the San Mames exchange station (which will combine the Metro, Renfe suburban services, Termibus and the Tram Service).

The Basurto Stop has been installed in Gurtubay Street, recently developed, next to Modtevideo Avenue, near the entrance to the Hospital and the access point to the neighbourhood of Basurto. Furthermore, the end of the provisional line introduces the possibility of a future extension towards Rekaldeberri.

The tram section that has been opened today runs along the extension of Ferrocarril Avenue, built on the former RENFE railway lines, as part of the town development plan promoted by Bilbao Ría 2000.

The Bilbao Tram Service has been jointly financed by the Basque Government, the Bilbao Town Council and the Bilbao Ría 2000 association, which has been in charge of the civil work and line, and by EuskoTren, which has undertaken the electrification of the line as well as the construction of the stops and operational systems (traffic signs, tram signs, communications, ticket vending and validation, power for the stations, tele-indicators, etc.).

On this new section, the tram service will run on cobbled streets. The power line is supported by posts with double corbels, except under the Engineering School bridge, where it is anchored to the bridge. 27 posts have been installed to complete the line.

With the new section, the line now covers a total distance of about 5 kilometres. This action also allows the future increase in the frequency of runs to 5 minutes from Pio Baroja to Basurto by using the double line.

The time required to cover the complete distance between Atxuri and Basurto will be 17 minutes. The trip between the new stops of San Mamés and Basurto will take 50 seconds.


TIME-TABLES

From next Monday, July 26th, to September 5th, both inclusive, EuskoTran will introduce its Summer Time-table, which basically contemplates frequencies of 15 minutes throughout the entire day. Once this period is over, the normal time-table will be re-introduced, with frequencies of every 10 minutes throughout most of the day, in both directions.

The summer time-table, for the period between July 26th and September 5th, will be as follows:

ATXURI - BASURTO

* Monday to Friday:

- First service: 5:57.
- From 05:57 to 22:42: every 15 min.
- Last service: 23:02.

* Saturdays, Sundays and Feast Days:

- First service: 06:57.
- From 06:52 to 22:42: every 15 min.
- Last service: 23:04.


BASURTO - ATXURI

* Monday to Friday:

- First service: 06:30.
- From 06:30 to 22:40: every 15 min.
- Last service: 23:25.

* Saturdays, Sundays and Feast Days:

- First service: 07:30.
- From 07:30 to 22:30: every 15 min.
- Last service: 23:25.


STAGES IN THE TRAM IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

The implementation of the modern tram service in Bilbao has been a gradual process, based on the progressive integration of this new means of transport into the city framework. Therefore, the gradual introduction of sections has allowed us to encourage the co-existence of Trams, pedestrians and vehicles, reducing the "novelty effect" impact.

The first EuskoTran unit began to operate in Bilbao on December 18th, 2002, after the official opening ceremony, which was chaired by the Vice-Lehendakari Idoia Zenarruzabeitia, the Head of the Transport and Public Works Department, Alvaro Amann and the Mayor of Bilbao, Iñaki Azkuna. Due to the town development work being performed in the Abandoibarra area, which limited the installation of the tram platform until the middle of 2003, the initial section to become operational only covered the route between the Atxuri and Uribitarte stops.

During this first phase, apart from providing the service in two important parts of Bilbao (The Old Quarters and Abando), the operation of EuskoTran allowed us to test the level of co-existence between all the components of the city framework.

The town development work in Abandoibarra allowed us to extend the operational section from Uribitarte to Guggenheim on April 30th. Consequently, the Tram service reached Abandoibarra and, thanks to the Pedro Arrupe footbridge, brought users nearer to Deusto University.

Once the town development obstacles at Abandoibarra had been overcome, EuskoTran reached San Mamés on July 24th. The Sabino Arana tram platform, work on which had ended months before, was connected to the rest of the network and the tendency to use this means of transport increased.

MILESTONES

* December 18, 2002 Inauguration of the service. Atxuri – Uribitarte Section

* April 30, 2003 Extension of the service to Guggenheim.

* July 24, 2003 Opening of the Guggenheim – San Mamés Section.

* July 22, 2004 Line A of the Bilbao Tram Service has reached Basurto.

  
   Communication Cabinet