Bilbao
HISTORY OF METRO BILBAO
Mister M presents
Metro Bilbao
Bilbao Metro Museum
Metro Bilbao (Spanish: Metro de Bilbao, Basque: Bilboko metroa) is a rapid transit (metro) system serving the city of Bilbao and the region of Greater Bilbao. Lines 1 and 2 have a "Y" shape (not to be confused with the 'Basque Y' rail project), as they transit both banks of the Nervión river and then combine to form one line that ends in the south of Bilbao. Line 3 has a "V" shape connecting the municipality of Etxebarri with the Bilbao neighbourhood of Matiko; the corner of the "V" is Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo station, where all three current lines meet. The network of Metro Bilbao is connected with the tram, Bilboko Aldiriak (commuter rail services), Euskotren Trena (commuter rail services), Feve (commuter rail services, regional and long-distance trains), the Renfe service (long-distance trains) and Bilbao's bus station Termibus. It uses a meter gauge.
As of 2017, the Metro operates on 49.16 kilometers (30.55 mi) of route, with 48 stations (31 of them underground, and 17 on the surface) with 80 accesses (not counting elevators). It is the third-largest Metro company in Spain by number of passengers carried (87,133,034 in 2013) behind the Madrid and Barcelona metro systems.
On 21 February 2007 the Basque Government announced the project for the construction of the third metro line, which in the future will be expanded to Bilbao Airport. Construction of the third line began in July 2008 and was inaugurated 8 April 2017. On 25 January 2008 the preliminary layout of lines four and five was published. At the same time, the University of the Basque Country requested the construction of "Line 6" in order to connect Leioa (where the university is located) and Getxo with Asua Valley (where the airport is located) going through the university campus.
The idea of building a metro system in the city of Bilbao is an old one. In the 1920s the city's council prepared a project to build a metro system in the neighbourhoods of Abando and San Francisco.
TIMELINE STORIES
MAPLINE routes
Discover the architecture of the Bilbao Metro: simplicity, functionality and aesthetics.
The fundamental idea behind the layout was an underground system close to street level with direct and easy access, and large stations with high vaulted ceilings where no one would feel enclosed. The design of the cave platform is original, simple and effective. The result is a great example of how engineering and architecture work together.
System
Bilbao (in Basque also Bilbo) with a population of about 1 million people is the largest metropolis in the Basque Country (Northern Spain) (including cities such as Portugal, Sestao, Getxo, Barakaldo). The metropolitan area stretches along both sides of the Nervion River and the Ria de Bilbao, suggesting a Y-shaped metro system.
For railway enthusiasts, Bilbao is quite interesting as there are several different types of urban railways operated by different companies, although they are poorly integrated with each other in terms of tariffs. With the opening of the L3 metro line in April 2017, Bilbao even has two different metro operators: Metro Bilbao for L1 and L2 and Euskotren for L3.
Bilbao is a less visited but increasingly popular destination. The Academy of Urbanism awarded him the Best City in Europe 2018 award. When you are on holiday abroad, you want to go to a quiet place with a temperate climate and greenery. The slowness and ease of access are unmatched. It is an expensive city to stay and eat, but there are several Pensiones that are very comfortable and cheaper than any Motel 6 in the American Midwest. I was planning my trip for June 2018 without knowing the city and region in advance. I looked into the subway and found out that it was designed by Sir Norman Foster. It opened 23 years ago and will not look outdated for many decades to come.
The video opens with a selection of music, teasing the subway.
