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Metrovalencia

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Not to be confused with Valencia Metro (Venezuela).

Metrovalencia
Overview
OwnerFGV
LocaleValencia, Spain
Transit typeRapid transit, tram
Number of lines10[1]
  • 6 rapid transit lines (L1, L2, L3, L5, L7, L9)
  • 4 tram lines (L4, L6, L8, L10)
Number of stations146
  • 38 underground stations
  • 108 surface stations
Daily ridership190,253 (avg. weekday, 2019)
Annual ridership69,442,539[2] (2019)
Chief executiveAnaís Menguzzato
Operation
Began operation8 October 1988 (as FGV)
21 May 1994 (as Valencia Tram)
5 May 1995 (as MetroValencia)
Number of vehicles106[1]
Technical
System length161.7 km (100.5 mi)[1]
  • 29.8 km (18.5 mi) underground
  • 131.3 km (81.6 mi) surface
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification750 V DC
1500 V DC, overhead wire
Map of Metrovalencia

Metrovalencia[a] is an urban rail including rapid transit and trams, serving Valencia and its metropolitan area. The network is a modern amalgamation of former FEVE narrow gauge electric-operated suburban railways. It is a large suburban network that crosses the city of Valencia, with all trains continuing out to the suburbs. It also has destinations on lines that make it more closely resemble commuter trains. The unique system combines light railway, metro and several tram operations north of the Túria riverbed park with line 4. Trains of lines 1, 3, 5 and 9 have automatic train operation (ATO) in 25.3 kilometers of underground system.[3] Tram lines 4, 6, 8 and 10 are operated by modern trams.[4]

This network consists of more than 161.7 km of route, of which 29.8 km is underground.[1]

The system authority Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) uses bilingual signage in Valencian and Spanish.

Operations

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Lines

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See also: List of Metrovalencia stations
Line Terminals Year opened[5] Service type Length[1] Stations[1] Passengers in 2018[2]
Bétera – Castelló 1988 Underground + Commuter train 72.145 km
(44.829 mi) 		40 9,808,295
Llíria – Torrent Avinguda 1988† Underground + Commuter train 39.445 km
(24.510 mi) 		33 9,124,791
Rafelbunyol – Aeroport 1995 Underground + Commuter train 24.691 km
(15.342 mi) 		27 14,147,324
Mas del Rosari/Ll. Llarga/Fira – Dr. Lluch 1994 Tramway 16.999 km
(10.563 mi) 		33 6,644,251
Marítim – Aeroport 2003 Underground 13.293 km
(8.260 mi) 		18 10,774,501
Tossal del Rei – Marítim 2007 Tramway 3.571 km
(2.219 mi) 		21 2,112,300
Marítim – Torrent Avinguda 2015† Underground 15.497 km
(9.629 mi) 		16 7,702,423
Neptú – Marítim 2015† Tramway 1.230 km
(0.764 mi) 		4 433,213
Alboraia-Peris Aragó – Riba-roja de Túria 2015† Underground + Commuter train 24.859 km
(15.447 mi) 		23 8,695,441
Alacant – Natzaret 2022[6] Underground + Tramway 5.3 km
(3.3 mi) 		8 N/A

† Notes: In 1998, Line 2 was combined with Line 1; it became a separate branch again in 2015. Lines 7 to 9 were created in 2015 by splitting existing branch lines, with the only new stations for these lines consisting of the extension from Manises to Riba-roja de Túria.

The network includes five unmanned stations: Rocafort, Fuente del Jarro, Massarojos, Fondo de Benaguasil and Font de l'Almaguer.[7]

Technical data

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Passenger numbers

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In 2012, an estimated 63,103,814 passengers used the service, a decline of 2.8% from the 65,074,726 who had used it in 2011. The 2011 figures had shown a 5% decline compared to 2010. On average 172,887 passengers a day used the service in 2012 with the busiest day being 18 March, the final day of the Fallas festival, when 482,960 passengers used the service. The three most used stations on the network were all in the centre of Valencia: Xàtiva, beside Valencia's main train station, with 4,769,628 passengers in 2012, Colón, in one of Valencia's main shopping streets, with 4,189,736 passengers and Àngel Guimerà, an interchange station for lines 1,4 and 5 situated beside Valencia old town, with 2,461,012 users. The fourth and fifth busiest stations were Túria, next to Valencia's main bus station, with 2,035,521 and Facultats, serving the University of Valencia, with 1,951,080 users. The remaining stations in the top eight were Plaça de Espanya (1,807,538 passengers), Amistat (1,552,281) and Mislata (1,505,106). The first two of these were located in areas near Valencia centre, while Mislata was the main station for the satellite town of the same name.[8]

In 2014, the system carried 60,111,000 passengers.[9]

In 2015, 60,686,589 passengers used the network, reversing a decline which had occurred in previous years. Seventeen stations reported more than 1 million users in that year.[10]

In 2019, patronage reached an all-time high of over 69 million. The ten busiest stations were Xàtiva with 5,459,784 passengers, Colón (4,520,931); Àngel Guimerà (3,067,957); Túria (2,044,393); Plaça d'Espanya (2,035,060); Facultats (1,951,546); Benimaclet (1,837,812); Amistat (1,817,120); Mislata (1,708,658); Avinguda del Cid (1,598,112).

In 2022, the system carried 63,361,626 passengers.[11]

History

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The Metrovalencia network traces its origins to the Trenet de València (ca; es) system of narrow-gauge interurban railways, of which its first section, built by the Valencian Tramway Society (es:Sociedad Valenciana de Tranvías) was opened in 1888 between Valencia (near the Pont de Fusta, or Fusta Bridge) and Llíria. Several further extensions of the Trenet were later built between 1891 and 1912. In 1917, both the Valencian Tramway Corporation and the Compagnie Génerale des Tramways de Valence (Espagne) Société Lyonnaise (es) were merged into a single company called the Valencia Tram and Rail Company (es:Compañía de Tranvías y Ferrocarriles de Valencia). After years of losses, the rail operations of CTFV were finally acquired by FEVE in 1964.[12]

First four lines

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Lines 1 and 5 at Torrent Avinguda Station. Differences between the old line (1) and the new line (5) can be seen in this picture

On 8 October 1988, the tunnel through which Line 1 crosses Valencia was opened between Sant Isidre and Empalme (at the time called Ademuz), allowing through-running via València-Jesús to Castelló de la Ribera. Line 2 went from València-Sud to Llíria, with some trains terminating in Paterna. The opening was marked by a ceremony in Plaça Espanya station attended by Transport Minister José Barrionuevo and Valencian President Joan Lerma.[13]

In May 1994, the first tranvia in the system, Line 4, opened. Valencia was the first city in Spain to use this mode of transport in the modern era[14] as trams had been withdrawn from Valencia in the 1970s and replaced by buses.[15] Initially, the line was 9.7 kilometres (6.0 mi) long and had 21 stations. The line connected the suburban lines with high demand zones such as the Polytechnic University, the new university campus, and the Malvarrosa Beach [es], replacing the former line from Empalme to El Grau.

In May 1995, Line 3 was created via a new tunnel from El Palmaret in Alboraria to Alameda. The extension reused an existing railway line from Pont de Fusta to Rafelbunyol, of which part was scrapped (between Pont de Fusta - Sant Llorenç - El Palmaret). The remainder was switched from 750 V to 1500 V.

Further alterations followed five years later. On 16 September 1998, Line 2 was merged with Line 1, and Line 3 was extended from Alameda to Avinguda del Cid in the west with a branch to Torrent in the south (with some trains only going as far as Jesús). Then, in May 1999, Line 3 was extended again from Avinguda del Cid to Mislata-Almassil.[14]

Lines 5 and 6, and more extensions

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Many stations have an artistic exhibit in the entrance hall. This one is in Benimaclet.

In April 2003, Line 5 was opened, taking over the Torrent branch of Line 3 together with a newly constructed 2.3-kilometre (1.4 mi) branch from Alameda to Ayora. (Although some very early morning trains still travel from Machado to Torrent, this is not represented on maps.) One year later, Lines 1 and 5 were extended from Torrent to Torrent Avinguda, a distance of 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi).

On 3 October 2005, an infill station between Colón and Jesús was opened on Line 5 with a connection to València-Nord. Additionally, Line 4 was extended to Mas del Rosari, and on December 20 to Lloma Llarga-Terramelar.

On 2 April 2007, Line 5 was extended eastward to Marítim (originally planned to be called Jerónimo Monsoriu). This station allows transfers to a tram operating to the port at Neptú station (opening two weeks later on the 18th), which was originally listed only as an extension of Line 5. Simultaneously, Line 5 was extended west with Line 3 to a new station at the Valencia Airport.

On 22 September 2007, Line 6 was opened, linking the neighborhoods of Orriols and Torrefiel to the metro system for the first time. Additionally a new infill station, Torre del Virrei, was added to Line 1, between L'Eliana and La Pobla de Vallbona.

On 12 December 2010, two overground stations on Lines 3, Alboraya and Palmaret, were replaced by new subterranean stations: Alboraia Peris Aragó and Alboraia - Palmaret, respectively. Additionally, on Line 1, Jesús was renamed Joaquin Sorolla, while the Hospital station was renamed Safranar.

On 6 March 2015, a 4-station spur from Rosas to Riba-roja de Túria was opened as Line 9. This followed the path of a regional train line, which had been closed in 2005.[16]

In April 2015, the metro map was redrawn with several of the branches split into separate lines, increasing the number of lines to 9.[17]

On 1 February 2022, the number of fare zones was reduced from four to two, as part of a reduction in ticket prices, with a supplemental fare applying to Aeroport station.[18] Additionally, the names of 21 stations were changed to make the names more readily identifiable, to adapt them to the urban changes in their areas, and to promote "linguistic normalisation" (favouring Valencian language names rather than Spanish language ones.)[19][20] The changes took effect alongside other changes made in preparation for the opening of the new tram Line 10,[21] which opened for service on 17 May 2022.[22]

Accidents

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Accident occurred on 9 September 2005

Between 2002 and the first quarter of 2012, 83 accidents had occurred on the network, costing the lives of 56 people.[23]

On 9 September 2005, two trains crashed into each other on Line 1. Nobody was killed, but according to early reports 35 people were injured, 4 of whom were taken to hospital, their condition described as serious. The first train had been stationary waiting for a red signal. 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 kilometres (3.1 mi) south-east of the city centre. The 3729 and 3730 EMUs are now a single EMU with 3729A and the 3730A cars, the 'B' cars were severely damaged and are currently at València-Sud workshop, waiting to be scrapped.

The date 3 July 2006 was a dark day for the Valencia metro. In a severe accident, a two-car EMU derailed between Jesús and Plaça d'Espanya stations. At least 43 people were killed and 47 injured. It was the worst metro accident in Spanish history.

The system was severely damaged by the October 2024 Spain floods, with the lines south of the city particularly badly affected, halting service. It was expected that it would take months to restore normal service.[24]

Future service

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Metrovalencia map with proposed expansions

Line 9 is planned to be extended to the centre of Riba-roja de Túria. A tunnel will be built between Bailén and Alameda stations, with a new station near Valencia city hall, in order to improve service frequency. Line 10 will be extended north from the Natzaret terminus to Valencia's marina and Malvarosa beach.[25] Three more lines are planned.[26] Of those, Line 12 will use part of the track of line 10 and add 4 new stations.[27]

Line Terminals Service type Comments
Alacant - Marina Real Underground + Tramway Under construction. Planned for 2025
12 Alacant - Hospital La Fe Underground + Tramway Under construction. Planned for 2026
14 Barri del Crist - Maritím Underground + Regional train Planned for 2027.[28] Will create 8 stations in Valencia's La Llum district, and the towns of Xirivella, Alaquàs, Aldaia and Quart de Poblet's Barri del Crist.

Postponed and cancelled extensions

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Map showing expansions planned in 2006

In 2006, the Generalitat Valenciana proposed a number of new lines and extensions which were abandoned due to lack of funds after the financial crisis of 2007–2008.[29]

Extension from Alacant to Tavernes Blanques

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Line 10 was originally planned to have run underground through Ciutat Vella (Valencia's historic centre) before emerging at surface level at Pont de Fusta station and continuing to Tavernes Blanques. One station on this line, Mercat Central, began construction in 2007 and was completed at a cost of 27 million euros, but remains a ghost station. In March 2021, the director of Valencian railways said that the project had been abandoned and that a decision would be taken on how to use the completed station.[30] In 2023 the Valencia regional government began feasibility studies in connecting the disused station with the rest of the network through a new tunnel.[31] Also at the end of 2023, after winning the 2023 Valencian regional election on a programme which included completing Line 10, the People's Party of the Valencian Community began considering various options for northern extensions, including the original idea to Tavernes Blanques or alternative routes to Empalme station.[32]

Extension to Vilamarxant

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Plans were made for an extension of Line 9 to Vilamarxant. However, by 2015, the plans had been abandoned.[33]

Orbital line

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This would have been a tram line connecting Valencia's north and south boulevards with the towns of Alboraya, Mislata and Xirivella. It would have brought metro service to Valencia's Tres Forques, L'Olivereta and Malilla districts. Only a small part of the line was constructed through Valencia's Torrefiel and Orriols districts and opened as part of the new Line 6 in September 2007.[29]

Horta Sud light metro

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This line, initially designated as line 8, would have begun at La Fe. It would have run through Valencia's district of La Torre and the towns of Sedaví, Alfafar and Benetússer before dividing into two. The southern branch would have gone through Massanassa, Catarroja, Albal, Beniparrell before terminating in Silla. The western branch was to run through Paiporta, Torrent, Alaquàs and Aldaia. It would then have split into 2 further branches. One would have terminated at Bonaire shopping centre with the other continuing through Quart de Poblet to the terminus at Faitanar.[29]

Coastal tram

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The coastal tram (es), originally designated as Line 10, would have connected Alboraya's Port Saplaya and Patacona beach with Valencia's Malvarosa and Las Arenas beaches before terminating at Marítim station.[29]

Network map

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Map


See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Valencian: [ˌmetɾovaˈlensia]
    Spanish: [ˈmetɾoβaˈlenθja]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "FGV en cifras > Metrovalencia en cifras > Datos de la red de Metrovalencia" [FGV figures > Metrovalencia figures > Data on the Metrovalencia network] (in Spanish). FGV. 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Metrovalencia alcanza los 69,4 millones de viajeros en 2019, la cifra "más alta de su historia"". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 18 January 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. ^ "El metro de Valencia pone en marcha el sistema de conducción automático" (in Spanish). 26 March 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Conversion Of Railway Lines For Suburban Passenger Services" (PDF). The World Bank. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  5. ^ Valencia metro at urbanrail.net, accessed 5 July 2015
  6. ^ "The Valencia Metro opens its Line 10 on May 17: from the center to the City of Sciences in eleven minutes". Valencia, Spain. 16 May 2022.
  7. ^ FGV prevé el cierre de líneas y la venta de estaciones para ahorrar 29,3 millones (in Spanish), Levante, 3 January 2013.
  8. ^ Metrovalencia desplazó 63'1 millones de pasajeros en 2012, un 3% menos (in Spanish), ABC, 6 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Estadística de Transporte de Viajeros" [Passenger Transport Statistics]. Ine.es (in Spanish). Instituto Nacional de Estadística [National Statistics Institute]. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  10. ^ Metrovalencia alcanza los 60,6 millones de viajeros en 2015 y supera los conseguidos el año anterior, 20minutos.es, 23 January 2016, accessed 19 May 2016
  11. ^ "Datos de la red de Metrovalencia - FGV". 29 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  12. ^ "El trenet de Valencia (1888-2000): la dimensión histórica y tecnológica de un transporte público". www.ub.edu. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  13. ^ "Inaugurado el metro de Valencia la víspera del 750 aniversario" [Valencia metro is opened on the eve of the 750th anniversary]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Valencia, Spain. 9 October 1988. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Evolución histórica FGV - Metrovalencia". FGV (in European Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Inaugurado el tranvía al Politécnico" [The tram to the polytechnic is opened]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Valencia, Spain. 22 May 1994. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  16. ^ La línea de metro a Ribarroja entrará en servicio el 6 de marzo (in Spanish), Las Provincias, 2 March 2015.
  17. ^ Así serán las nuevas líneas de Metrovalencia (in Spanish), ABC, 27 November 2014.
  18. ^ "El Metro de Valencia tendrá solo dos zonas tarifarias a partir de enero de 2022" [Metrovalencia will only have 2 fare zones after January 2022]. ABC (in Spanish). Spain. 30 November 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  19. ^ "La Generalitat suprime el castellano en todas las paradas del Metro de Valencia y elimina la del Rey Juan Carlos" [The Generalitat abolishes Spanish at all stops on Valencia Metro and eliminates the King Juan Carlos name]. ABC (in Spanish). Spain. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  20. ^ "La Generalitat retira el castellano y el nombre de Juan Carlos I en el metro" [The Generalitat removes Spanish and the name of Juan Carlos I from the metro]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Spain. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Las 21 estaciones y paradas de Metrovalencia que cambian de nombre" [The 21 Metrovalencia stations that will change their name]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Spain. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  22. ^ "Valencia celebrates with new line 10". Tramways & Urban Transit. No. 1015. UK: Mainspring Enterprises Ltd. July 2022. p. 244. ISSN 1460-8324.
  23. ^ La red de Metrovalencia ha sufrido 83 accidentes con 56 fallecidos desde 2002 (in Spanish), El Pais, 5 June 2013.
  24. ^ Torres, Begoña (31 October 2024). "Metrovalencia tardará meses en recuperar el servicio entre la capital y los municipios del sur" [It will take months to restore normal Metrovalencia service to the southern municipalities] (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  25. ^ Ortega, N (28 March 2023). "Dos nuevas líneas de metro unirán el centro de Valencia con La Marina y La Fe: así será el recorrido de la L-11 y L-12 del tranvía" [Two new metro lines will link the centre of Valencia with the marina and La Fe]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  26. ^ Vazquez, C (29 December 2021). "Un segundo túnel entre las estaciones de Bailén y Alameda mejorará las frecuencias del metro" [A second tunnel between Bailén and Alameda stations will improve service frequency]. El País (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  27. ^ "Así será la nueva Línea 12 de Metrovalencia: recorrido y paradas previstas" [This is what the new Metrovalencia Line 12 will look like: route and planned stops]. ABC (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Así será la nueva Línea 14 de Metrovalencia que llegará a Aldaia, Alaquàs y Xirivella" [This will be the new Metrovalencia Line 14 that will reach Aldaia, Alaquàs and Xirivella]. Valencia Extra (in Spanish). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  29. ^ a b c d Carlos, NC (30 December 2013). "La crisis deja en el olvido hasta siete proyectos de transporte público en Valencia" [The crisis resulted in up to 7 public transport projects in Valencia being forgotten]. 20minutos.es (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  30. ^ Navarro Castelló, Carlos (11 March 2021). "FGV no contempla que la Línea 10 del metro atraviese el centro de València y busca alternativas para la estación fantasma del Mercat Central" [FGV doesn't plan to continue Line 10 through the centre of Valencia and is looking for alternatives for the Mercat Central ghost station]. elDiario.es (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  31. ^ Reig, Nacho (13 December 2023). "La Generalitat adjudica la redacción del estudio para desdoblar el túnel del metro entre Alameda y Bailén" [The Generalitat begins drafting a study to split the metro tunnel between Alameda and Bailén]. ondacero.es (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  32. ^ Obrador, JL (2 November 2023). "El Consell retoma la ampliación hacia el norte de la L10 del metro que descartó el Botànic" [The council revisits the extension of Line 10 to the north which the Botànic agreement discarded]. 20minutos.es (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  33. ^ Domingo, Isabel (29 October 2018). "Las promesas olvidadas del metro de Valencia" [The forgotten promises of Metrovalencia]. Las Provincias (in Spanish). Spain. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
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Media related to Metrovalencia at Wikimedia Commons

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