Spain continues the modernisation and expansion of San Sebastian Norte station (Atotxa), which will be the first in the Basque Country to welcome the arrival of high-speed trains, planned for 2030, as announced by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente.
The works have a EUR 93 million budget financed by the Spanish Government, and are entrusted to the Basque Government, which is carrying them out through Euskal Trenbide Sarea (ETS), the rail infrastructure manager of the Basque Country.
Óscar Puente, and the Minister of Sustainable Mobility of the Basque Government, Susana García Chueca paid a working visit at the work site and both officials highlighted the importance of the collaboration between the Spanish and Basque Governments to carry out the works, which are progressing at a good pace and are expected to be fully completed in 2026.
The event was also attended by the mayor of San Sebastián, Eneko Goia, the Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Jose Antonio Santano, the Government delegate in Euskadi, Marisol Garmendia, and the deputy Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility of the Basque Government, Miguel Angel Páez.
“We hope to see the new Atotxa in all its splendour and operational capacity next year, when we will be able to enjoy its modern and respectful conception and its historic exterior design, thanks to the collaboration and understanding between all the institutions involved. In particular, the Basque public company Euskal Trenbide Sarea and the state-owned Adif,” Óscar Puente said during the visit. Ha also added that the technical complexity of the work is being carried out, while maintaining the regular railway services, with 60 daily commuter, medium and long-distance conventional trains per day.
Regarding the progress of the works at the San Sebastian Norte station, a milestone has been reached with the provisional commissioning of the new passenger building with access from Paseo Francia (Urumea side), so that passengers will be able to start accessing the trains through what will be the definitive station, while the work continues. The final station will integrate the provisional station, located next to the Tabakalera cultural centre, which has been used for the last two years.
“For mobility to become an effective right, it is necessary to have modern, accessible, affordable and comfortable infrastructures capable of socially and economically structuring our territory, and Atotxa is a good example of this,” Susana García Chueca said.
The project covers the extension of Atotxa with two floors, with an architecture that differs from the original, reconstructed historic part, adapting it to the new needs of railway operations. Next to it, the restored historic platform canopy has been placed again. This building will be complemented, on a lower level, by the underground access halls, which will occupy 7,400 square metres.
The new station increases its capacity, both in halls and platforms, paying special attention to the connection with other modes of public transport, reconfiguring the accesses and connections with the bus station. In addition, it will incorporate a new public square in front of the Tabakalera cultural centre of more than 5,700 square metres.
In its final configuration, San Sebastian Norte station will have six tracks and five platforms. Standard gauge long-distance and high-speed lines will have three central 410m-long platforms, which will be able to accommodate double-composition trains. The local train services will have two side tracks, which are planned with mixed gauge (third rail) to make the circulation of trains in both standard and conventional gauge compatible.
The station is part of Y Basque high-speed rail project that will allow trains to arrive in Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz, for which Spain’s Government invested EUR 4.9 billion and “the budget can increase to EUR 9 billion. This 2025 means being able to accompany the entire Basque society in the beginning of the long-awaited end of the Basque Country Y and its emblematic stations. This year will experience the last great push to finish its branches, since we will complete almost all of its railway platform,” the Minister Óscar Puente said.
In addition, Adif is already working on the construction of the new high-speed line between Burgos and Vitoria-Gasteiz, in order to significantly reduce travel times on the connections between Euskadi and La Meseta. The final procedures are already being finalised to tender the works for the high-speed connection between Pancorbo and Ameyugo, on the Burgos – Vitoria line. EUR 400 million is the estimated value of the tender.
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