Sevilla - 700,000 inh. (1.4 mill in metropolitan area); capital of Andalusia in southern Spain.

After the construction of the first line of a full 3-line metro network began in the late 1970's the project was suspended in 1983 due to fear that historical buildings might be damaged in the city centre.

With metro construction booming in Spain (especially in Madrid and Bilbao) during the late 1990's, Seville rediscovered the need for improved public transport and began planning the construction of a light rail network, similar to a Premetro/Sneltram system with certain routes in tunnel (especially that built in the early 1980's in eastern Seville) but other stretches running at street level.

Construction of Line 1 (18 km, 22 stations) was finally awarded in March 2003, works began in 2003, and after some delays the opening of Line 1 was finally opened in April 2009. The central section includes the tunnel built in the 1980's between Nervión and La Plata. Although initially planned to run on the surface, the southeastern segment through the municipality of Montequinto was eventually also built underground.

Trains were built by CAF. At least 17 articulated low-floor vehicles are needed: 31 m long, 2.6 m wide, 3.3 m high. 1435 mm gauge, overhead power supply, 750V; 6 doors on either side; air conditioning; capacity: 192 passengers/vehicle (60 seated, 132 standing).

Stations were designed by the architects Enrique Abascal Garc�a, Miguel D�az Zulategui and �ngel D�az Dom�nguez with a lot of natural light in underground stations. Concrete, metal and glass were the basic materials used. As a worldwide first, the stations of this low-floor light metro system are equipped with platform screen doors.

METROCENTRO

A short 1.4 km surface tram line (promoted as MetroCentro) through the historic city centre opened on 28 Oct 2007. This line uses the same vehicles as those in service on the light metro line.

1999 - Metro de Sevilla founded

Oct 2003 - construction start

02 April 2009 - Ciudad Expo - Condequinto

 Projects

Not too many details are available at the moment. See link below for latest news.

Line 1 - southern extension from Olivar de Quintos to Dos Hermanas
Line 2 - Torreblanca-Sevilla Este-Puerto Triana (east - west)
Line 3 - Pino Montano-Los Bermejales (north - south)
Line 4 - Cartuja-Tamarguillo-Reina Mercedes (circular)

View map with all planned lines here

Mon-Thu 06:30-23:00, Fri 06:30-02:00, Sat 07:30-02:00, Sun 07:30-23:00, every 4 min during peak hours.

Fares (2009):

3 zones: 1.30/1.55/1.75 € (only Metro)

Say ticket all 3 zones: 4.50 €