08 : Research : Bilbao

I seem to have developed some sort of condition where I talk about this project to almost anyone that will listen.  This became particularly apparent in Melbourne last weekend, where I met up with two lovely friends of mine (who both happen to be student architects) and gave me a couple of ideas.  As it happens, they traveled around Europe together last year, and they mentioned the light rail system in Bilbao, Spain is really interesting.  So I've done a bit of research into what they were talking about about.

Bilbao developed a new tramming system called 'EuskoTran' and was developed to encourage urban revitalisation.  According to Euskotran suburban trains, the metro and the tramway currently form three essential pillars for the development and revitalisation of Bilbao as a modern city. "After many years went the tram has been rediscovered as an ideal alternative for the future. Quite a paradox for a means of transport unfairly branded as an anachronism and taken out of service during the 50s and 60s in cities which gave their streets and avenues over to private cars. Today, the Tramway is the alternative to pollution-generating forms of transport in city centres. Surface transport which does not need large infrastructures or heavy investment costs. Transport which travels the streets along reserved spaces or in company with other vehicles. Without limits, because its versatility enables it to adapt to any type of urban surface, be it tarmac, paving stones, stone, sand or grass...
These are the most significant advantages of the Tramway, although the economic benefits that this system brings to a city are no less important: it improves access to cities with resulting savings in time and fuel costs, and strengthens the development of cores of commercial activity. The Tramway thus becomes a driving force for a city‚s urban and social transformation."