[All] Valencia's Impressive LRT and Cycling Network

Thu Oct 23 11:04:29 EDT 2014

Good Day,

With all the talk about Light Rail Transit in the upcoming local elections on Monday I thought I would share some inspiration and photographs about the Valencia, Spain LRT network and their amazing bicycle infrastructure from my recent trip with Stephanie.

Valencia's LRT network is particularly interesting because they are using the same Bombardier Flexity trains that we will be using here in Waterloo, however the European version of the Flexity is one foot narrower than our light rail vehicles will be to accommodate the narrow European streets and laneways.

Valencia, an eastern Spanish coastal city of 1.8 million people on the Mediterrean is over 2,000 years old and located 350km south of thriving Barcelona.  It is connected by an amazing high speed rail network to most major cities in Spain.  It's interesting to note that despite a severe economic downtown and a national unemployment rate over 25%, the Spanish government has deemed their rail infrastructure as an essential element of their economic recovery and has built over 2,000km of intercity high speed rail in the past 10 years.  It certainly serves as a great model and motivation for us to build simply 100km of high speed rail to connect Waterloo Region to Toronto when our economy is strong, our highways gridlocked, and our unemployment rate below 7%.

The Metrovalencia urban transit network within Valencia consists of a small subway system, extensive light rail transit, local rail commuter trains, and a wide variety of bus routes.  Given the difficulties of trying to drive and park in a city core that is still a medieval walled city with buildings hundreds and even thousands of years old their transit network is widely used by citizens as a fast, easy, and economical way to get around this bustling city.  Many of our rapid transit construction challenges pale in comparison to trying to deal with the historical buildings and archeological challenges they face.

Some of the 19 Bombardier Flexity LRV's they are using are almost ten years old and yet they still appear almost new, being quite durable and very well maintained.  They also have 25 older Alstrom LRV's still in service.  Valencia has developed a wonderful LRT network spanning the city with a wide variety of LRT configurations including dedicated pedestrian and LRT streets, center running tracks, side running tracks, and some areas where the LRT's run on green corridors creating lush swaths of nature through the city along the routes.  

In total, Valencia has 45 km of LRT track (including some underground) and 85 LRT stations on three different routes that are all low floor and completely accessible.  Three more LRT lines are planned and under construction.  Metrovalencia also operates another 120km of subway and regional train network as well as numerous bus routes throughout the city.

The Bombardier Flexity LRV's were fast, smooth, and quiet however on some tight corners there was some rail squeal and in some places the LRV's ran a bit rough.  I assume that we will ensure oilers to reduce squeals on any tight corners and that in Waterloo we will ensure our track bed as well as LRV suspensions are designed to provide the smoothest ride possible.

It was great to see such a wide diversity of citizens all using and benefiting from their LRT system.  We saw numerous people bring bicycles and strollers onto the trains which even had special places to park and straps to secure them inside the trains.  It was amazing to see how it seemed that almost everyone in the city had the most ingenious little wheeled carts that they used for their shopping and groceries then simply wheeled on and off the totally accessible transit system.

In conjunction with their public transit, Valencia has developed an incredible bicycle trail and bike lane network throughout the city and widely promotes active transportation with bike-share programs available at almost every transit station. Active transportation can be a challenge in a city that has such hot summers, and still cools off dramatically in winter with some very wet months however, they certainly seemed to be succeeding and its citizens seemed to be enjoying a very high quality of life with activity flourishing in all parts of their community.

Overall, Valencia has an amazing LRT network augmented by a very impressive cycling infrastructure.  It was a joy to experience the Bombardier Flexity LRV's that we have ordered for Waterloo Region firsthand.  I have attached a variety of photographs below.  Please let me know any questions and hopefully within a few years our community will have a transportation system that is just as successful.

Cheers,
Kevin.

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A Bombardier Flexity LRV in Valencia.

A typical LRT station in suburban Valencia, Spain.

The view from the drivers cab of an approaching Bombardier LRV.

A Valencia LRT on a center running stretch of track.

A dedicated LRT route with no vehicle traffic and a station on the left.

Two Valencia Flexity LRT's at a station.  Note the extremely narrow gauge of track the Spanish use.

One of the older LRV trains used by Metrovalencia coupled together to make a double train.

The impressive greenery and landscaping that can be found along many of the Valencia LRT routes.

A roadway in Valencia that is entirely dedicated to LRT and bicycle lanes.

Some of the other clearly delineated cycling paths that stretch throughout the city for hundreds of kilometers.

More of the Valencia cycling infrastructure.  Note how many of their cycling lanes is well separated from any moving traffic.

A typical urban LRT station in Valencia, Spain.

A ticketing machine for Metrovalencia.  They use a proof of payment system with random enforcement and no turnstiles or other boarding bottlenecks.

The interior of a Valencia Flexity LRV.

Bilingual signs are posted in both Castillian Spanish (the official language) and Cataluyan Spanish (a local dialect).

Electronic signage provides station information, next station information, time and even outdoor temperature.

Unlike some LRT systems, Metrovalencia has ensured there is clear sightlines through the cab past the driver to allow passengers to clearly see approaching stations and not lose their bearings or reference points as the LRTs travel through the city.

A Valencia LRT in an underground station next to a subway where one line connects to another line in their network.

The amazing carts and buggies that everyone seems to use to be easily able to get their shopping home by walking or transit.  It will be important that we look into programs here to ensure similar carts are available to our citizens to encourage LRT ridership and ease of use.

More shoppers with their carts in the Valencia farmers market.

A photo of a Valencia LRT at a track junction between two different lines in a residential part of town.

A final photo of a Valencia LRV in the business district.

Please let me know any ideas or questions.  Thanks!

-------------------------------------

Kevin Thomason

1115 Cedar Grove Road
Waterloo, Ontario Canada  N2J 3Z4

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648
Twitter: @kthomason
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com

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