EuskoTren
Encyclopedia
EuskoTren is a commuter rail service which operates in the Basque Country
provinces of Biscay
and Gipuzkoa. It is one of the three commercial brands of the public society owned by the Basque Government
, Eusko Trenbideak - Ferrocarriles Vascos. Its metric gauge
rail tracks
were used for the FEVE
railway operations until they were transferred to the Basque Government, who used them for the EuskoTren services. EuskoTren operates train and bus services, while EuskoTran
operates tram
services and EuskoKargo manages cargo
services. The EuskoTren bus service is integrated with the regional bus companies BizkaiBus
(in Biscay) and Lurraldebus (in Gipuzkoa).
EuskoTren was the owner of the line Bilbao
-Plentzia
, which was formerly owned by Ferrocarriles y Transportes Suburbanos de Bilbao FTS (English
: Bilbao's Metropolitan Railways and Transportation). That line is now used as the Line 1 of Metro Bilbao
since 1995. EuskoTren also manages several funicular services in Biscay.
and Gipuzkoa, both in the Basque Country
(Spain
), and a small rail track and one station in France
(the French rail track is owned by FEVE
). Currently, it operates with commuter rail services, suburban rail systems and it operates with "Cercanías" services on places where a Renfe
Cercanías
system does not exist. The network includes regional services between the cities of Bilbao
and San Sebastián
and services that work as "international bridge" between Irun
(Spain) and Hendaye
(France
).
Bilbao
an city, the company has already announced its interests about the new high-speed rail network (Basque Y
). The Basque Y will be a new railway network using standard gauge
that will be suitable for high-speed
trains and will connect the three capital cities in the Basque Country
with high-speed trains in Spain
first and in France
later.
Since the creation of Eusko Trenbideak, the evolution and the acceptance of public transport in the Basque Country has set the future of several stations and rail tracks. The most significative is the closing of the Urola's Railway in 1986, being replaced by a bus service between the localities of Zumaya and Zumárraga.
The old line Bilbao
-Plentzia
, the one with the biggest number of passengers of the company, at the moment of the closure, was closed in 1995 when Metro Bilbao
decided to use part of its rail tracks for the Line 1 of the metro. The rests of the line were not of interest of the company because of its closeness with the Line 1 of Metro Bilbao
, which also gets to Plentzia
. Then, the line was merged with the "Txorierri Line" of EuskoTren.
Other disused lines include Erandio-Sondika, and some stations in the line Lasarte Oria-Hendaye.
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
provinces of Biscay
Biscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
and Gipuzkoa. It is one of the three commercial brands of the public society owned by the Basque Government
Basque Government
The Basque Government is the governing body of the Basque Autonomous Community of Spain. The head of this government is the lehendakari or Basque president that is appointed by the Basque Parliament every four years...
, Eusko Trenbideak - Ferrocarriles Vascos. Its metric gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
rail tracks
Rail tracks
The track on a railway or railroad, also known as the permanent way, is the structure consisting of the rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast , plus the underlying subgrade...
were used for the FEVE
FEVE
FEVE is a state-owned Spanish railway company, which operates most of Spain's of metre gauge railway.-History:...
railway operations until they were transferred to the Basque Government, who used them for the EuskoTren services. EuskoTren operates train and bus services, while EuskoTran
EuskoTran
EuskoTran is a light rail tram service which operates in the cities of Bilbao , Vitoria and, in the future, in the town of Leioa , all of them in the Basque Country, Spain. It is one of the three commercial brands of the public society owned by the Basque Government, Eusko Trenbideak -...
operates tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
services and EuskoKargo manages cargo
Cargo
Cargo is goods or produce transported, generally for commercial gain, by ship, aircraft, train, van or truck. In modern times, containers are used in most intermodal long-haul cargo transport.-Marine:...
services. The EuskoTren bus service is integrated with the regional bus companies BizkaiBus
BizkaiBus
BizkaiBus is the name for bus services serving the province of Biscay, Spain. It is named after the Basque name of the province, Bizkaia. The buses can be identified by their distinctive yellow colour scheme....
(in Biscay) and Lurraldebus (in Gipuzkoa).
EuskoTren was the owner of the line Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
-Plentzia
Plentzia
Plentzia is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The town has 4,146 inhabitants ....
, which was formerly owned by Ferrocarriles y Transportes Suburbanos de Bilbao FTS (English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: Bilbao's Metropolitan Railways and Transportation). That line is now used as the Line 1 of Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Its lines have a "Y" shape, with two lines that transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao...
since 1995. EuskoTren also manages several funicular services in Biscay.
Passenger lines and services
EuskoTren manages the railways controlled by ETS that transit on BiscayBiscay
Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
and Gipuzkoa, both in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), and a small rail track and one station in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(the French rail track is owned by FEVE
FEVE
FEVE is a state-owned Spanish railway company, which operates most of Spain's of metre gauge railway.-History:...
). Currently, it operates with commuter rail services, suburban rail systems and it operates with "Cercanías" services on places where a Renfe
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
Cercanías
Cercanías
Cercanías is the name given to the commuter rail systems of Spain's major metropolitan areas. In Catalonia and Valencia, however, the term is replaced by Rodalies , while the designation Aldirikoak is used in the Basque Country....
system does not exist. The network includes regional services between the cities of Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
and San Sebastián
San Sebastián
Donostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
and services that work as "international bridge" between Irun
Irun
Irun is a town of the Bidasoa-Txingudi region in the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain...
(Spain) and Hendaye
Hendaye
Hendaye is the most south-westerly town and commune in France, lying in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and located in the traditional province Lapurdi of the French Basque Country...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
).
| Atxuri (Bilbao) - Ermua | Durangaldea | |
| Ermua - Amara (Donostia) | Kostaldea | |
| Ermua - Eibar - Azitain | Tranbia Eibar-Ermua | |
| Lasarte Oria - Hendaia | Topo | |
| Atxuri (Bilbao) - Bermeo | Urdaibai | |
| Deustu (Bilbao) - Lezama | Txorierri | |
| Escontrilla - La Reineta | Funicular | |
| Lasao - Azpeitia | Tren Vapor | |
| San Antonio - Aireportua | Line 3 of Metro Bilbao Metro Bilbao Metro Bilbao is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Its lines have a "Y" shape, with two lines that transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao... (Under construction, first phase (San Antonio-Matiko) to be completed in 2012) |
Lines and stations
| EuskoTren Stations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1D | 1K | 1T | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Metro L3 (2012) | |
| Atxuri Bilbao-Atxuri Station Bilbao-Atxuri Station, commonly known only as Bilbao-Atxuri or Atxuri Station is a terminal station located in the neighborhood of Atxuri, in the district of Ibaiondo in Bilbao, Spain. The terminal serves commuters traveling on EuskoTren and the tram services of EuskoTran. It is the terminal... |
Atxuri Bilbao-Atxuri Station Bilbao-Atxuri Station, commonly known only as Bilbao-Atxuri or Atxuri Station is a terminal station located in the neighborhood of Atxuri, in the district of Ibaiondo in Bilbao, Spain. The terminal serves commuters traveling on EuskoTren and the tram services of EuskoTran. It is the terminal... |
Deustu | Escontrilla | ||||||
| Bolueta Bolueta Station Bolueta station, commonly known simply as Bolueta is a railway station serving the commuter rail and regional rail services of EuskoTren and also the rapid transit system Metro Bilbao. It is located in the neighborhood of Bolueta and district of Begoña, south-eastern Bilbao. In total, five... |
Bolueta Bolueta Station Bolueta station, commonly known simply as Bolueta is a railway station serving the commuter rail and regional rail services of EuskoTren and also the rapid transit system Metro Bilbao. It is located in the neighborhood of Bolueta and district of Begoña, south-eastern Bilbao. In total, five... |
Unibertsitatea | Larreineta | ||||||
| Etxebarri | Etxebarri | Matiko | Matiko | ||||||
| Ariz | Ariz | Zumalakarregi | Uribarri | ||||||
| Zuhatzu | Zuhatzu | Zazpi Kaleak Casco Viejo Station Casco Viejo Station, also known as Zazpi Kaleak Station is a railway station located in the historial neighborhood of Casco Viejo, in the district of Ibaiondo, Bilbao. It serves the commuter rail services of EuskoTren and rapid transit sytem of Metro Bilbao... |
Casco Viejo Casco Viejo Station Casco Viejo Station, also known as Zazpi Kaleak Station is a railway station located in the historial neighborhood of Casco Viejo, in the district of Ibaiondo, Bilbao. It serves the commuter rail services of EuskoTren and rapid transit sytem of Metro Bilbao... |
||||||
| Usansolo | Usansolo | Ola | Zurbaranbarri | ||||||
| Bedia | Bedia | Sondika | Txurdinaga | ||||||
| Lemoa | Lemoa | Larrondo | Otxarkoaga | ||||||
| Amorebieta | Amorebieta Geralekua | Elotxelerri | San Antonio | ||||||
| Euba | Zugastieta | Derio | |||||||
| Durango | Muxika | Lekunbiz | |||||||
| Fauste Landako | Lurgorri | Zamudio | |||||||
| Traña-Abadiño | Gernika | Kurtzea | |||||||
| Berriz | Institutoa | Lezama | |||||||
| Zaldibar | Forua | ||||||||
| Ermua | Ermua | Ermua | Busturia San Kristobal | ||||||
| Errotabarri | Busturia Axpe | ||||||||
| San Lorentzo | Busturia-Itsasbegi | ||||||||
| Unibertsitatea | Mundaka | ||||||||
| Amaña | [Bermeo | ||||||||
| Ardantza | Ardantza | ||||||||
| Eibar | Eibar | ||||||||
| Azitain | |||||||||
| Elgoibar | |||||||||
| Toletxegain | |||||||||
| Altzola | |||||||||
| Mendaro | |||||||||
| Deba | |||||||||
| Arroa | |||||||||
| Zumaia | |||||||||
| Zarautz | Lasao | ||||||||
| San Pelaio | Azpeitia (Basque Railway Museum) | ||||||||
| Aia-Orio | |||||||||
| Usurbil | Lasarte Oria | ||||||||
| Errekalde | Errekalde | ||||||||
| Añorga | Añorga | ||||||||
| Lugaritz | Lugaritz | ||||||||
| Amara | Amara | ||||||||
| Anoeta | |||||||||
| Loiola | |||||||||
| Herrera | |||||||||
| Pasaia | |||||||||
| Galtzaraborda | |||||||||
| Errenteria | |||||||||
| Oiartzun | |||||||||
| Gaintxurizketa | |||||||||
| Irun-Bentak | |||||||||
| Belaskoenea | |||||||||
| Irun | |||||||||
| Nazioarteko Zubia | |||||||||
| Hendaia | |||||||||
Connections
BilbaoBilbaoBilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
-San SebastiánSan SebastiánDonostia-San Sebastián is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, in the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km away from the French border. The city is the capital of Gipuzkoa, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. The municipality’s population is 186,122 , and its...
- AtxuriBilbao-Atxuri StationBilbao-Atxuri Station, commonly known only as Bilbao-Atxuri or Atxuri Station is a terminal station located in the neighborhood of Atxuri, in the district of Ibaiondo in Bilbao, Spain. The terminal serves commuters traveling on EuskoTren and the tram services of EuskoTran. It is the terminal...
| (Regional service final station) - BoluetaBolueta StationBolueta station, commonly known simply as Bolueta is a railway station serving the commuter rail and regional rail services of EuskoTren and also the rapid transit system Metro Bilbao. It is located in the neighborhood of Bolueta and district of Begoña, south-eastern Bilbao. In total, five...
| (Regional service station) - Usansolo-Galdakao | Bus -> Galdakao's Hospital
- Lemoa |
- Durango | (Regional service station)
- Ermua |
- Eibar | (Regional service station)
- Deba | Bus -> Ondarroa
- Zumaia | Bus ->
- Zarautz | (Regional service station)
- Errekalde |
- Amara | (Regional service final station)
"Topo" (Mole)
- Errekalde |
- Amara | (Regional service station)
- HendayeGare d'HendayeHendaye is a railway station in Hendaye, Aquitaine, France. The station is located on the Bordeaux - Irun and Bilbao - Hendaye railway lines. The station is served by TGV , Lunéa , Intercités and TER services operated by the SNCF and Alvia , Talgo, Arco, Estrella and EuskoTren services operated...
(FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) | (Regional service station) SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français)SNCFThe SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
Urdaibai
- AtxuriBilbao-Atxuri StationBilbao-Atxuri Station, commonly known only as Bilbao-Atxuri or Atxuri Station is a terminal station located in the neighborhood of Atxuri, in the district of Ibaiondo in Bilbao, Spain. The terminal serves commuters traveling on EuskoTren and the tram services of EuskoTran. It is the terminal...
| (Regional service station) - BoluetaBolueta StationBolueta station, commonly known simply as Bolueta is a railway station serving the commuter rail and regional rail services of EuskoTren and also the rapid transit system Metro Bilbao. It is located in the neighborhood of Bolueta and district of Begoña, south-eastern Bilbao. In total, five...
| (Regional service station) - Usansolo-Galdakao | Bus -> Galdakao's Hospital
- Lemoa |
Txorierri
- Casco Viejo |
- Zamudio | Bus -> Parque Tecnológico (Technological Park)
Funicular
- Larreineta | Transportes Vigiola (Bus)
- Escontrilla | Bizkaibus
Tren Vapor (Steam Train)
- Lasao | Bus -> Azpeitia / Zumarraga; Bus -> Zumaia
- Azpeitia | Bus -> Zumarraga; Bus -> Lasao / Zumaia
Line 3 (Metro Bilbao)
- Matiko |
- Casco Viejo |
- Uribarri |
High-speed rail
Due to the future liberation of the railway transportation, which will allow EuskoTren to operate on any EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an city, the company has already announced its interests about the new high-speed rail network (Basque Y
Basque Y
Basque Y is the name given to the Spanish high-speed rail network being built between the three cities of the Basque Country autonomous community; Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.-Characteristics:...
). The Basque Y will be a new railway network using standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
that will be suitable for high-speed
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
trains and will connect the three capital cities in the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
with high-speed trains in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
first and in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
later.
Urola's Railway
Since the creation of Eusko Trenbideak, the evolution and the acceptance of public transport in the Basque Country has set the future of several stations and rail tracks. The most significative is the closing of the Urola's Railway in 1986, being replaced by a bus service between the localities of Zumaya and Zumárraga.
Bilbao-Plentzia
The old line Bilbao
Bilbao
Bilbao ) is a Spanish municipality, capital of the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country. With a population of 353,187 , it is the largest city of its autonomous community and the tenth largest in Spain...
-Plentzia
Plentzia
Plentzia is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The town has 4,146 inhabitants ....
, the one with the biggest number of passengers of the company, at the moment of the closure, was closed in 1995 when Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Its lines have a "Y" shape, with two lines that transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao...
decided to use part of its rail tracks for the Line 1 of the metro. The rests of the line were not of interest of the company because of its closeness with the Line 1 of Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao
Metro Bilbao is a rapid transit system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Its lines have a "Y" shape, with two lines that transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao...
, which also gets to Plentzia
Plentzia
Plentzia is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, in northern Spain. The town has 4,146 inhabitants ....
. Then, the line was merged with the "Txorierri Line" of EuskoTren.
Other
Other disused lines include Erandio-Sondika, and some stations in the line Lasarte Oria-Hendaye.