Basque Ministry of Sustainability Mobility puts out to tender the project to build the Betoño engine sheds for the Vitoria-Gasteiz tramway

- The branch line envisages a new stop at Cuenca del Deba on the Salburua line

The Basque Government's Ministry of Sustainable Mobility, through the Euskal Trenbide Sarea procurement committee, has put out to tender the construction of the Betoño engine sheds of the Vitoria-Gasteiz tramway and its connection branch line, worth €800,000 and with a 12-month implementation period. The extension of the Salburua line envisages a new stop at Cuenca del Deba.

When the extension of the tramway to Zabalgana comes into service (the construction project from Lovaina to that district is well underway), the Ibaiondo facilities – currently engine sheds and workshops – are inadequate to meet the night parking and maintenance needs. Therefore, different location alternatives were analysed and Betoño was chosen at the request of the municipal authorities.  Once these new engine sheds have been built, Ibaiondo will have to be remodelled to increase the service tracks, as its main function will be as a workshop.

According to Euskotren calculations, 28 tramways are needed for the network to be developed in full. If the 18 units to be stabled in Betoño when the extension of the tramway to Zabalgana has been completed are taken into account and if 4 backup positions are included for when operating conditions require adjustments to the number of trams allocated to the engine sheds, ETS has decided that the new engine shed design should have a minimum capacity for 22 trams of 45 metres in length.  

The access siding to the engine sheds, in turn, connects to the Salburua stop, as the layout continues along the centre of Avenida 8 de marzo to the crossroads with Avenida Londres; it then continues straight until it turns along Calle Helsinki to Cuenca del Deba, where a new stop will be located.  Access to the yard with the future engine sheds will be from the roundabout between Paseo de los Humedales and Calle Elgoibar.

The final design will be implemented on a practically rectangular plot measuring 226 metres long by 108 metres wide, with two independent buildings, 2 access tracks for trams, 11 tracks with two stabling positions, including a track with lower and upper access on one of them.  Outdoor stabling areas will also be reserved.  The dovetailing aims to avoid affecting the existing football pitches and mainly involves the sidings to enter the engine sheds and their stabling length.  The building roof will have to be easy to access for maintenance purposes. It will also have to be able to support a photovoltaic panel facility.

The outdoor washing facility, aggregate to top up the brakes and wheel gauge will be located to one side. There will also be two adjacent buildings for internal services, such as changing rooms, toilets and rest areas for the drivers, storage, technical rooms, meeting and training rooms, offices and control centres.