Bilbao rail network
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 (also including Helsinki and Tallinn) that have both narrow and broad gauge railways without any standard gauge railways.
Bilbao rail network | |||
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Overview | |||
Owner | Consorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia | ||
Locale | Bilbao, Vizcaya | ||
Transit type | Metro, Commuter rail, Tram | ||
Website | Sistema de transporte público y zonal de Bizkaia (CTB) | ||
Operation | |||
Operator(s) | Metro Bilbao, Euskotren (Euskotren Trena and Euskotren Tranbia) and Renfe (Renfe Cercanías and Renfe Feve) | ||
Technical | |||
Track gauge | 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) (Metro Bilbao, Euskotren, Renfe Feve) 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+21⁄32 in) (Renfe Cercanías) | ||
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It currently consists of thirteen lines, counting those of metro and tram as well as suburban rail; complemented by a wide-covering bus network, as well as other means of transportation including funiculars. The services are offered by different companies, whose activity is coordinated by the Consorcio de Transportes de Bizkaia (Transport Consortium of Bizkaia), which integrates their respective operators and facilitates and encourages their use.
The three major operators of the rail transport network are Metro Bilbao (2 lines), Euskotren (5 Euskotren Trena lines and 1 Euskotren Tranbia line) and Renfe (3 lines of Cercanías Bilbao and 2 of Renfe Feve). The lines converge in the capital and reach six of the seven regions of the province: Arratia-Nervión, Busturialdea-Urdaibai, Duranguesado, Gran Bilbao, Las Encartaciones and Uribe. Thus, the only region without rail lines is Lea-Artibai. Areas that lack rail service are served by Bizkaibus.