The Department of Sustainable Mobility of the Basque Government will double the frequency of the Topo service between Altza and Pasaia from July 18, following the commissioning of the new two-kilometer railway section. These works, carried out by the public entity Euskal Trenbide Sarea (ETS), will eliminate the 'dead end' at Altza and improve the connection to Amara.
As explained by the Minister of Sustainable Mobility, Susana García Chueca, on the new underground section between Altza and Pasaia, train frequency will be doubled. On weekdays, the connection to Amara will be every 7.5 minutes (currently every 15), and also on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, it will be every 15 minutes (now every 30), and on Saturday nights, every 30 minutes (currently every 60).
García Chueca stated that with the new frequencies, "a significant step forward is being taken in the objective of reducing waiting times in the railway service of Gipuzkoa." Residents of Pasaia and Altza will no longer have to watch the clock so closely, as trains will pass through their stations every seven and a half minutes.
After the completion of the work by ETS, Euskotren has been conducting test runs ('marchas en blanco') since mid-June prior to the service's launch with passengers. These runs are necessary to perform all technical checks on both the infrastructure and the rolling stock. During this period, over 150 Euskotren driving agents have received training on the new section's characteristics, driving, and safety aspects.
Furthermore, Euskotren's fleet will eventually consist of 67 units with the addition of five new trains that CAF is scheduled to deliver in the coming months, providing the company with greater capacity to handle regular service and special circulations for cultural, sporting, or festive events. Currently, 136 train services operate daily on weekdays through Altza and Pasaia; this number will rise to 274 once the new variant is operational.
On Saturday, July 18, the Topo trains will stop for the first time at the new Pasaia station, which will be underground and will completely change the appearance of the Antxo district by allowing for the future demolition of the disused railway viaduct. In the new public space created above the station, Gure Zumardia square, the Department of Sustainable Mobility, ETS, and Euskotren have organized a day with activities related to the railway world, including face painting, a photocall, workshops, music, and gastronomic tastings, to welcome the new station and the new train frequencies.
