The Palma Metro (Catalan: Metro de Palma, Spanish: Metro de Palma [de Mallorca]) is a light metro system in Palma, Majorca, Spain. The initial line of the system, M1, is 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi) long [3] and has nine stations.[1] It was constructed between 2005 and 2007 at cost of 312 million euros[4] and opened for service on 25 April 2007.[3] In March 2013, an existing 8.35-kilometre (5.2 mi)[citation needed] rail line with nine stations was incorporated into metro system as the M2 line.

Palma Metro
Overview
LocalePalma, Majorca, Spain
Transit typeRapid transit/Light metro
Number of lines2[1]
Number of stations16[1]
Daily ridership6,575 (2016)
Annual ridership2,4 million (2016)[2]
Operation
Began operation25 April 2007[3]
Operator(s)SFM
Number of vehicles11 CAF SFM Series 71 & 81
Train length2–3 cars
HeadwayM1: 15 or 30 minutes
M2: 20 minutes
Technical
System length15.6 km (9.7 mi)
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+38 in)
Electrification1500 V DC overhead
Top speed100 km/h (62 mph)
Network map of Palma Metro

In 2016, the Palma Metro carried 1.2 million passengers, an average of 3,288 per day.

Overview edit

The metro opened on 25 April 2007.[3] It runs from the city centre to University of the Balearic Islands, known locally as Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB). Spanish authorities suspended operations on the line in September 2007 due to repeated flooding.[5] Services restarted on 28 July 2008 after a 46% cost overrun.[6] Due to the short length of Line M1, the journey from the Intermodal to UIB can be done in less than 20 minutes. Trains run daily from 06:35 to 21:55; headways are every 15 minutes during peak hours, and every 30 minutes at other times.[7]

In November 2012, Consorci de Transports de Mallorca (CTM) announced that a second rail line would be added to the Palma Metro system, operating on a route that would serve nine stations between Plaça d'Espanya (Intermodal station) and Marratxí station. The establishment of this new line would pose no cost since it would utilize the existing infrastructure of CTM's already-operating three rail lines. Revenue service on the M2 line began on 13 March 2013. Headways on the M2 line are generally 20 minutes throughout the day.[8] Because the M2 line operates on rail shared with Majorca's three commuter rail lines,[9] it doesn't qualify as a true "metro standards" line like the M1 line does.

List of stations edit

 
Plan of the two metro lines of Palma de Majorca.

M1 serves 9 stations, and M2 lines serves 10 stations; the first three of these stations are served by both lines, and thus operate transfer stations between the lines (as well as with Mallorca's three commuter rail lines):[1][9]

 
Line M1[7]
Plaça d'Espanya to UIB
7.2 km (4.5 mi), 9 stations
 
Line M2[8]
Plaça d'Espanya to Marratxí
8.35 km (5.2 mi), 10 stations

See Majorca rail network for a network map and timings.

Future expansion edit

As early as 2005, prior to the opening of the metro, future extensions were proposed, including from Estació Intermodal to the Port of Palma, using an old tunnel underneath the city.[10]

Parc BIT edit

 
Parc BIT

In 2019, a one-station, 1.5 km extension of M1 from its current UIB terminus to the Parc Bit science and technology park was agreed,[11] and is due to open in 2020.[12] This extension is predicted to cost €11.5 million and carry 225,000 passengers annually.[13]

Son Espases University Hospital edit

A 2.1 km branch from Camí dels Reis station to the Son Espases University Hospital [ca; es] was proposed in 2019.[14]

Network Map edit

 


References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Línies / Metro Palma" [Lines / Metro Palma] (in Catalan). TIB - Consorci de Transports de Mallorca (CTM). Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  2. ^ "Spanish sleaze: Majorca faces corruption clean-up". BBC News. 28 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "SFM network (then go to "Metro" page)". Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM). Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  4. ^ "Diario de Mallorca - El precio final del metro subió 77 millones sobre lo reconocido". diariodemallorca.es es un (in Spanish). Editorial Prensa Ibérica. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  5. ^ "Mallorca Rail Development, Spain". Railway-Technology.com. Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  6. ^ "Palma metro reopens on Monday amid row over 46% cost overrun". Majorca Daily Bulletin. 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  7. ^ a b "Routes - Metro Palma - M1". TIB - Consorci de Transports de Mallorca (CTM). Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  8. ^ a b "Routes - Metro Palma - M2". TIB - Consorci de Transports de Mallorca (CTM). Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  9. ^ a b "SFM Network - Train & metro stations". Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM). Retrieved 2014-05-16.
  10. ^ Mariona Cerdó (September 2005). "El túnel del puerto se recuperará para construir una línea de Metro". El Mundo. Archived from the original on 2013-04-12. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Un total de tres empresas optan a la redacción del proyecto de ampliación del metro hasta el Parc Bit". Europa Press. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  12. ^ "METRO EXTENSION IN PALMA FOR 2020". Ultima Hora. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  13. ^ "La línea de metro hasta el ParcBit costará el doble de lo previsto para que sea más rápida". Ultima Hora. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Cinco empresas optan a la redacción del proyecto para ampliar la línea de metro Palma-UIB hasta Son Espases". La Vanguardia. 23 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.

External links edit

  Media related to Palma de Mallorca Metro at Wikimedia Commons


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