Euskotren Trena, formerly known just as Euskotren is a commuter, inter-city and urban transit train-operating company that operates local and inter-city passenger services in the provinces of Biscay and Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Country, Spain. It is one of the four commercial brands under which Euskotren operates, as a public company managed by the Basque government. The entire 181.1 km network[5] uses narrow gauge rail tracks which have been owned by the Basque Government since their transferral from the Spanish government; the rail tracks and stations were part of the FEVE network until its transferral. Euskotren Trena also operates the Donostia/San Sebastián metro under the brand Metro Donostialdea.
Euskotren Trena operates the railway services and networks, while Euskotren Tranbia operates the tram networks, Euskotren Autobusa the bus services and Euskotren Kargo the freight rail services. Since 2006 Euskotren Trena has been the commercial brand for the operator of the railway network in the Basque Country, which is Euskotren, while the network itself is owned by the public entity Euskal Trenbide Sarea. In 2012 the commercial brand was changed from simply Euskotren to Euskotren Trena, adding the Basque word trena.
Services
The Euskotren Trena service is operated by Euskotren in the railway network owned by Euskal Trenbide Sarea, in the Basque provinces of Biscay and Gipuzkoa. The immediate predecessors were operated by FEVE and Ferrocarriles y Transportes Suburbanos. The infrastructure and service have since been improved into a modern commuter/regional rail system.[6]
In Biscay, the network is structured around Line 3 of the metro, which is fed by suburban trains traveling beyond the metro line.[7][8] These trains serve areas such as Txorierri, Busturialdea and Durangaldea; including towns such as Derio, Lezama, Amorebieta-Etxano, Gernika, Bermeo and Durango.[9]
In Gipuzkoa, traffic is centered in the San Sebastián metropolitan area. The suburban network there is being gradually improved to rapid transit standards.[10] There are also trains from San Sebastián to the coastal towns of Zarautz, Zumaia and Deba; and further inland to Elgoibar, Eibar and Ermua.
Lines
The Euskotren Trena network consists of the following lines:
- Euskotren E1.svg E1 line, from Matiko (in Bilbao) to Amara (in San Sebastián). It connects the capitals of Biscay and Gipuzkoa, while serving intermediate towns. Traffic is concentrated in the Bilbao-Durango, Ermua-Elgoibar and San Sebastián-Zumaia sections.
- Euskotren E2.svg E2 line, from Lasarte-Oria to Hendaye. It spans the San Sebastián metropolitan area, and is being improved to rapid transit standards.
- Euskotren E5.svg E5 line, from Amara to Altza (both in San Sebastián). Functionally part of the former, it serves the Altza branch.
- Euskotren E3.svg E3 line, from Kukullaga (in Etxebarri) to Lezama. It serves the Txorierri valley in Biscay.
- Euskotren E3a.svg E3a line, from Lutxana (in Erandio) to
Current operations
Euskotren, which operates the Euskotren Trena brand has its central offices in the Bilbao-Atxuri Station, in the district of Ibaiondo, in Bilbao. There are operations centres in several stations, including those of Durango and Donostia-San Sebastián. Currently, the rolling stock is maintained at depots in Abadiño, Gernika and Errenteria. New depots are being built in Irun.
Ticketing
Euskotren Trena uses both regular paper tickets and the Barik card available only on some lines. Users can acquire single tickets and return tickets at the vending machines available at every station, and monthly and yearly travel cards are also available. Young people and elderly people also may acquire special tickets.[12] The Barik travel ticket was initially only available on the Txorierri line, and it will be available for use on all lines once it is fully implemented.
The ticket pricing is based on zone-based rules.
Rolling stock
Euskotren Trena operates a fleet of 58 electric multiple units (EMU), all built by CAF. The 900 and 950 series, the two train types currently operating, are similar but feature a different number of cars. They entered service between 2011 and 2018, replacing the older 200, 300 and 3500 series trains.[13]
These train types themselves had been built in the 1970s and 1980s to replace the rolling stock inherited from Ferrocarriles Vascongados and Ferrocarriles y Transportes Suburbanos,[13] with some of the older trains having dating from the 1920s.[14]
Livery
The new rolling stock (900 and 950 series trains) is painted with the new Euskotren Trena livery, white with black contrast and blue and orange circles in the doors.
Current developments
The developments of the network operated by Euskotren, under the commercial brand of Euskotren Trena, are being conducted by Euskal Trenbide Sarea, which has control of the Basque railway network. The developments do not include any expansion of the lines or new lines (those not yet proposed or planned) but the improvements of the current network, with new stations, alternate routes and a second rail track in areas where there is only one, as well as the elimination, or at least reduction, of all the level crossings.
- Euba-Iurreta section. The section between Euba, in Amorebieta-Etxano and Iurreta is currently being upgraded to include a second track, in order to improve frequencies and eliminate ten level crossings. This development is part of the Durango+ project, which aims to improve the service and frequencies in the Durangaldea region. It was scheduled to be finished in 2013.[16]
- Iurreta-Durango-Abadiño section. The section immediately after Euba-Iurreta is the Iurreta-Durango-Abadiño section, which is being constructed underground, in order to eliminate the level crossings and tracks that go through Durango and Abadiño. Two new stations will emanate from this project: an underground station for Durango to replace the current overground one and the Fauste Landako station and a semi-underground station for the neighbourhood of Matiena, in Abadiño (also replacing the current one). The Durango depot will be moved to new facilities in Lebario, Abadiño. It was expected to be finished in 2013.
See also
- Bilbao rail network
External links
References
- Tarifas euskotren.eus, retrieved 15 May 2021^
- Horario lanzadera euskotren.eus, retrieved 15 May 2021^
- Erlantz Gude. Los trenes circularán cada hora desde el lunes para conectar Lutxana con el Txorierri