The Valencia Metro - FGV
Villanueva de Castellon-Plaza Espana-Seminari
L'Alcudia - Plaza Espana - Betera
Torrent - Plaza Espana - Lliria
Torrent - Colon - Palmaret
Mislata-Almassil - Colon - Rafelbunyol
Feria Valencia -TVV - Empalme - Benimaclet - Dr. Lluch (loop) (Tranvia)
Parque Ayora - Colon (under construction)
Introduction
The modern and efficient Valencia Metro, parts of which are still under construction, is a result of the takeover, in 1988, of the systems formerly run by FEVE, and which had been allowed to become run down, by the Valencian Government as FGV. Although FEVE had made a start on the under city tunnel, it is under FGV that the system has been vastly expanded and transformed. The history can be divided into two parts - pre and post 1988.
Pre-1988 History
The Ferrocarril de Valencia a Villanueva de Castellon (VVC) had its Valencia terminus at Jesus station. From there, it was opened to Torrente (now Torrent) on 11-11-1893, to Picassent on 27-1-1894, Carlet on 1-11-1895 and Alberique on 1-11-1895. It took until 11-7-1915 for the final section to Villanueva de Castellon to open. There was a short branch from Valencia to Nazaret which carried passengers from 15-8-1912 until the floods of 1957. The line became a subsidiary of the CTFV in 1924, and was completely acquired by the latter in 1946. The main depot and works were adjacent to Jesus station.
La Sociedad Valenciana de Tranvmas (SVT) opened a line from the Marchanales district of Valencia through Empalme to Paterna on 20-6-1888, and from Paterna to Lliria on 18-7-1888. From Empalme, a branch to Betera opened on 14-8-1891. Next, a line from Grao to a new central terminal in Valencia at Puente de Madera (now Pont de Fusta) opened on 9-7-1892, the new terminus also being used by Lliria and Betera trains. Finally, the Rafelbunyol line was opened in stages between 18-3-1893 and 19-11-1893. The SVT was acquired by the French Compagnie General des Tramways Electriques de Valence. This went bankrupt in 1917, and was taken over by the CTFV
The Compania de Tranvmas y Ferrocarriles de Valencia (CTFV) took over the lines of the bankrupt SVT on 10th September 1917. Work commenced immediately on electrifying the lines to Betera, Rafelbunyol and Grao at 600V DC OH, and the line to Lliria was later included in the plan. Electrification was complete by 1923, except for the Lliria line completed in 1925. The company also operated the lines of the VVC as a subsidiary from 1925, and completely took it over in 1946. Electrification at 600V DC overhead was started in 1943, but not completed until 1955. The two sections of the CTFV were unconnected; stock transferring between them had to transfer by road.
The CTFV was taken over by FEVE on 24-9-1965. FEVE even further isolated the Lliria and Betera lines from the rest of the system by converting them to 1500V DC OH in 1981. For this they bought ten three car units from Babcox and Wilkins, now the only pre-FGV rolling stock on the system. FEVE's other achievement was to close the line from Alberique to Villanueva de Castellon in 1982.
Post 1988 History
Since 1988, what was previously a motley collection of rather run down suburban metre gauge lines has been transformed into what is, in the opinion of many, one of the finest underground railways in the world, unusual in that it is all of metre gauge. I have had the pleasure to observe the work at many of its stages, and the achievement. The northern and southern lines were united by an underground section running through central Valencia. The line to Grao has been converted into a 750v DC OH "tranvia" running originally to Ademuz (now called Empalme) utilising the lines made redundant when the Lliria and Betera lines connected with the Villanueva line. It has been extended in stages to the Valencian Television Centre (TVV), and further extended in 2000 to Feria Valencia. The Rafelbunyol line has been extended, in tunnel, to meet the "main line" at Jesus. There is a junction at Colon with another new underground line running to an underground terminal at Mislata-Amassil. Another new underground line is being constructed from Parque Ayora to Alemada, where it meets the Rafelbunyol line. When this is finished, the new line will run from Parque Ayora to Mislata-Amassil, leaving the Rafelbunyol line to run its entire service to Jesus and on to Torrent. Finally, yet another new line is proposed from Nazaret to Orriols, partially replacing the old line closed as long ago as 1957!
LINKS
There is a very good description (In English) of the current operation of the system, with some modern pictures and further links on
For fares, maps and timetables, visit the