Valencia Metro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Valencia Metro in Spain was inaugurated on October 8, 1988.
The Valencia metro is unusual among metro systems in that it consists of a conventional, largely underground system within the city centre, but with some trains continuing out to far-flung suburban destinations on lines that more closely resemble commuter train lines, for example, in being scheduled and not grade-separated. An on-street light rail system north of the Túria riverbed park is considered Line 4 of the metro.
The metro network consists of more than 83.75 miles (134km) of track, of which around 11.9 miles (19km) is below ground.
Although Spanish is the main language spoken in Valencia, the metro system authority has a policy of putting all metro signage in Valencian, with a Spanish translation underneath in smaller lettering (Valencian is co-official with Spanish in the Land of Valencia).
Contents |
[edit] Lines
| Line | Terminals | Length | Stations | Passengers in 2005 |
| 1 | Llíria/Bétera – Torrent Av. - Vll. de Castellón | 59.5 miles (95.2km) | 58 stations | 19,277,123 |
| 3 | Rafelbunyol - Mislata Almassil | 12.37 miles (19.8km) | 21 stations | 25,450,000 |
| 4 | Mas del Rosari/Fira de Valencia – Dr. Lluch | 6.1 miles (9.8km) | 32 stations | 5,088,092 |
| 5 | Ayora - Av. del Cid/Torrent Av. | 11 miles (17.7km) | 18 stations | 11,700,000 |
[edit] Technical data
- Gauge width: 1000mm
- Current system: 750 V DC / 1500 V DC, overhead wire
[edit] History
8 Oct. 1988 - Line 1 was inagaurated from Bétera to Ademuz (now Empalme) and from there to Castelló de la Ribera (now Villanueva de Castellón) with some trains only going as far as Hospital. Line 2 went from Ademuz to Lliria, with some trains terminating in Paterna.
May 1994 - Line 4 (known as the "tranvía.") opened. Valencia was thus the first city in Spain to use this mode of transport. Originally line 4 was 6 miles (9.7km) long and had 21 stations. This line connected the metro with high demand zones such as the Polytechnic University, the new University Campus and the Malvarosa beach.
5th May 1995 - Line 3 was opened from Alameda to Rafelbunyol (with some trains terminating at Alboraia although this was later changed to Palmaret.)
Spring 1998 - Line 2 was merged with line 1.
16th September 1998 - Line 3 was extended from Alameda to Avenida del Cid in the west and Torrent in the south with some trains only going as far as Jesús.
20th May 1999 - Line 3 was extended from Avenida del Cid to Mislata-Almassil
30th April 2003 - Line 5 was opened: a new branch from Alameda to Ayora (1.4 miles) (2.3km) with the previous line 3 connection from Alameda to Torrent transferred from Line 3 to Line 5. Although some very early morning trains still travel from Rafelbunyol to Torrent, this is not represented on maps.
2004 - To prepare for the extension of line 4, the TVV stop was temporarily suspended with services terminating instead one stop earlier at V.Andres E.
22nd Sept 2004 - Line 5 was extended from Torrent to Torrent Avinguda 1.4 miles (2.3km).
September 2005 - Line 4 was extended to Mas del Rosari
9th September: Three morning trains crashed into each other on Line 1. Nobody was killed, but according to first reports 35 people were injured, 4 of whom were taken to hospital, their condition described as serious. The first train had been stationary. The second used its emergency brakes to avoid a collision, but was hit by a third train. The force of the impact severely damaged the drivers' cabs at the front of the last train and at the rear of the second train. The crash occurred between Paiporta and Picanya about 5 km south-east of the city centre.
3rd Oct 2005 - Bailén station was added to line 5.
December 2005 - Line 4 was extended to Lloma Llarga-Terramelar.
3rd July 2006 - Two cars of a train derailed between Jesús and Plaza de España stations. At least 42 people were killed and 47 injured. See 2006 Valencia metro accident.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
