Basque Transport Ministry puts out to tender the removal of a level crossing at Bedia station and the construction of a park-and-ride car park
The Procurement Committee of Euskal Trenbide Sarea, a public entity under the Basque Government's Ministry of Territorial Planning, Housing and Transport, has put out to tender the removal of the level crossing between platforms at Bedia station — on the Bilbao-Donostia/San Sebastián railway line — and the construction of a park-and-ride car park. Companies interested in bidding have a budget of €3.1 million and a maximum implementation period of 12 months.
The car park, with a surface are of 2,150 square metres, is envisaged at the same level as the existing platforms in order to improve accessibility to the station. The car park will have a total of 41 places; four of which will have charging stations for electric vehicles and there will be two places for people with reduced mobility. There will also be an area for parking electric and conventional bicycles.
This park-and-ride car park will be on a plot adjoining the station and outside the urban area; its aim is to encourage more passengers to use the railway from neighbouring towns such as Usansolo and Lemoa.
The specifications include the construction of a single-storey passenger building, with a gable roof and with a surface area of just over 100 square metres. The building will have three rooms: a main lobby and a 9-m2 room on either side; one will be used as the station manager's office and the other for the terminal's facilities, as it will house the low voltage panel, the communication cabinet and other remote-control equipment. The machines to buy and validate tickets will be in the lobby.
In turn, the removal of the level crossing between platforms will involve a pedestrian walkway being built over the railway lines to access the southern platform, for trains running towards Bilbao. The deck of the structure is located at a height of roughly 5 metres from platform level.
The walkway is mainly to be built out of steel. The lift towers are designed with a laminated metal profile structure. The lifts will have glass doors and the other two sides will be opaque. Passengers will access the lift on the northern platform — for trains towards Donostia — directly from inside the lobby.
The steps are supported on two small concrete ledges into which two steel bars are fitted. The bearing structure consists of rectangular tubular profiles and corrugated sheets, which will be topped with tiles with a stoneware finish. A rail with metal posts and double-height handrails will run along the walkway, which will have interior integrated lighting.