Ola station explained

Ola
Style:Euskotren Trena
Borough:Sondika, Biscay
Line: Line E3
Operator:Euskotren
Structure:At-grade
Platform:1 side platform
Tracks:1
Parking:No
Opened:31 October 1908
Accessible:Yes[1]
Owned:Euskal Trenbide Sarea

Ola is a railway station in Sondika, Basque Country, Spain. It is owned by Euskal Trenbide Sarea and operated by Euskotren. It lies on the Txorierri line.

History

The station was not part of the Txorierri line when it opened in 1894. Due to budget constraints, the original alignment through Mount Artxanda included prolonged steep slopes. This caused a serious accident only two months after the opening, after which the decision was taken to build a tunnel directly under the mountain.[2] The station opened on 31 October 1908, as part of the new alignment between Bilbao and Lezama.[3]

During the construction of Bilbao metro line 3, the old tunnel through Artxanda was closed. As a result, the only service calling at the station from November 2015 to April 2017 was a shuttle to and from .[4] Together with the metro line, a new double-track tunnel was built under Artxanda parallel the one inaugurated in 1908; which now serves as an evacuation gallery for the new one.[5] After the opening of line 3 in April 2017, train service on the Txorierri line was completely restored, with its trains running through the new tunnel and the metro line.[6]

If the long-planned railway line to the airport is built, the station will be rebuilt at a different location as part of a new alignment between Ola and that will remove the need to reverse at the latter station.[7]

Services

The station is served by Euskotren Trena line E3. It runs every 15 minutes (in each direction) during weekdays, and every 30 minutes during weekends.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Accesibility . Euskotren . 16 November 2021.
  2. News: Iturralde . Mikel . La catástrofe de Begoña . 16 November 2021 . El Correo . 3 May 2015 . es.
  3. Web site: Peris Torner . Juan . Ferrocarril de Bilbao a Lezama (Suburbanos de Bilbao) . Spanish Railway . 16 November 2021 . es . 21 March 2012.
  4. News: Euskotren pone en marcha la conexión entre Ola y Sondika . 16 November 2021 . Deia . 21 December 2015 . es.
  5. News: Abajo . Teresa . La Línea 3 del metro empezará a funcionar a finales de marzo . 17 November 2021 . El Correo . 30 July 2016 . es.
  6. News: Domínguez . José . La Línea 3 del metro aumenta un 20% los viajeros en la red de Euskotren en el Txorierri . 17 November 2021 . El Correo . 9 March 2018 . es.
  7. News: G. Alonso . Alberto . El metro dibuja su tramo final para alcanzar el aeropuerto . 17 November 2021 . Deia . 22 August 2021 . es.
  8. Web site: L3-E3 . Euskotren . 17 November 2021 . es, eu.