The Basque Autonomous Region government recently officially approved the signing of a financing and construction agreement with the province of Biscay, launching the construction of Bilbao Metro Line 4 (C4). The total length of the line is 6.7 kilometers, with a total investment of 412 million euros. It is planned to start construction before the end of 2027 and will extend the subway network from Matico to the southern district of Leikaard, filling the gap in rail transit in the southwest area of Bilbao.

6.7 kilometers through the southern extension of the city

According to the agreement, the initial budget for the project is 412 million euros, with the Basque government bearing 55% and the province of Biscay bearing 45%. The latter's contribution limit is 200 million euros and applicable to 2032. The total cost will be dynamically adjusted as the design progresses.

Line 4 departs from the current endpoint of Line 3, Matico, passing through Deusto/University, Park, Zabalbulu, Moyoa, and Irala, and ends at Rocard. Moyoa Station can transfer to Line 1 and Line 2, effectively strengthening the rail connection between the southern area and the city center. The project is implemented by the Basque Railway Network, a regional infrastructure management agency, and the construction plan is scheduled to start in Reykjavik before the end of 2027.

Dual development of track asset recovery and western extension planning

The agreement also promotes a joint effort between the Basque government and the province of Biscay to transfer the 1000mm gauge railway infrastructure from the national management agency Adif to the local level. Last year, the commuting operation of the C4 line (from Bilbao La Concordia to La Calcada) was taken over by the Basque Country government, but the related infrastructure still belongs to the central government. This agreement marks a crucial step towards asset return.

The second phase of the plan will utilize the C4 line to extend the subway service from Leikaard to Enkarteri district in the west, further improving the public transportation supply in the western region of Biscay. Keywords: transportation, subway

With the landing of Line 4 and the promotion of rail asset recovery, Bilbao is accelerating the construction of a multi-level rail transit network covering the entire area, injecting new momentum into regional integration development.Editor/Cheng Liting