I'll do one more round of teasers before turning in for the night. I'll be on the road the next few days, so I'll continue teasing once I get steady Internet again.
Madrid now has three light rail lines, called Metro Ligero. All three lines opened in 2007, and I believe more are in the planning stages. I rode one of them, the ML1, which runs in Northern Madrid. The other two are in the southwestern part of the city. The ML1 has both tunnel and surface running, I believe the other two are primarily on the surface. All three lines run the same Alstom Citadis 302 vehicles.
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridml1.jpg)
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridml2.jpg)
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridml7.jpg)
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridml8.jpg)
Going back to the Metro proper, Madrid has some very large and grand stations, with provisions for future lines already built in. For example, ChamartÃn has 4 levels (platforms, mezzanine for transfering, platforms, mezzanine with fare control). The levels with platforms are perpendicular to each other. There are two two track trackways on each level, with 2 side platforms and an island on each level (the same as 34/7 and 34/8 in New York). On both levels, only one trackway is actually in use however, the other trackway and the unused side platform will be used at some point in the future. Pictures speak more than words, so I'll post them and let them complete the image I'm trying to create.
Here is the unused trackbed on the lower level:
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridsta10.jpg)
This is on the lowermost level of the station:
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridsta11.jpg)
Upper platforms
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridsta14.jpg)
Upper level unused trackbed:
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridsta13.jpg)
Here are some other station photos:
One of the few surface stations
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridsta2.jpg)
Typical station from the 1970s:
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridsta3.jpg)
Newer transfer station between Line 4 and Line 8, with two levels and two side platforms on each level, this is the upper level:
(http://www.orenstransitpage.com/otpspainpics/madridsta7.jpg)
I'll continue with this again in a few days, probably continuing with the Netherlands.
Awesome photos. I'm going to Europe next year I think. If not Europe, then definitly Asia.
Excellent photographs, thank you. When I was in Madrid a few years ago I rode the subways but the light rail system was not available then. I will have to return to ride them and eat more of my favorite spanish food, paiella.
Oren,
Awesome pics. Thanks a bunch. If I never get to Europe, thanks to you I gotten a look at lots of their rail equipment and buses.
Thanks for the comments on this and the other threads. I can't post up anything more at the moment, but I'll continue doing so over the next week once I'm back on my own Internet connection.