Bilbao Metro Unveils €800 Million Upgrade to Transform Travel

The Bilbao Metro will be subject to an €800m refurbishment project, which will see 37 modern trains replace old ones. This will improve transport in the Basque Country.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Bilbao Metro Unveils €800 Million Train Renewal Project

The Province of Bizkaia has confirmed a spending commitment of between €700 million and €800 million ($745-$850 million) on renewing the fleet for the Bilbao Metro and improving signaling. This is part of a long-term strategy for sustainable transport.

Don’t miss…Network Rail finishes £320m modern signalling upgrade

The initiative was announced by Elixabete Etxanobe, General Deputy of Bizkaia and president of both Metro Bilbao and Bizkaia Transport Consortium (CTB), in the Sarriko station during celebrations for 30-years milestone. According to her, this initiative will improve accessibility and safety.

It is expected that officials will hold the meeting for the CTB council prior to the end of this year to launch the international tender. As the Provincial Council had secured their 50% contribution, preparations for procurement and contracts will progress immediately.

Engineers will finish work on the technical specifications for these new-generation rolling stocks and communications by late 2025. The finalized design for these trains will therefore focus on efficiency, passenger comfort, and connectivity.

Bilbao Metro Extension Enhances Basque Transportation Strategy

The scheme involves the purchase of 37 trains to replace the 30-year-old ones, in addition to signaling and communication systems for all three lines covering 51km. This will improve frequencies and journey times.

At present, Metro Bilbao uses 46 trains manufactured by CAF, which have accumulated 123 million kilometres and transported 2.3 billion passengers since 1995. These trains have now reached the end of their lifecycle and need to be replaced.

“The new fleet will establish ‘the second generation of the Bilbao Metro,’ which will maintain leadership in safety, punctuality, and travel experience quality,” confirmed Etxanobe. “Public investment combined with digital transformation and innovation will make Bilbao a model for smart mobility in Northern Spain,” she emphasized.

Specialists in the transport sector have advised synchronizing this upgrading with future EU funds for inter-regional lines so that Bizkaia can have faster integration with national high-speed routes. Such a measure would enhance logistics and stimulate more investment in Basque Industry.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed: