Bizkaia publishes a book on the history of the Arratia tram

62 years of history of the Arratia tram summarized in a book, the Graphic history of the Arratia tram (1902-1964).

This is a work written by Jon Urutxurtu that remembers how this means of transportation accompanied the inhabitants of the municipalities where circulated between 1902 and 1964. “It represents a journey through the time tunnel that aims, with the help of numerous photographic images and textual documents, to look back into the past,” the Provincial Council of Bizkaia has highlighted.

The book It is on sale in the Publications Store of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia. It can also be purchased onlineat www.bizkaia.eus/argitalpenak. “To delve into the history of the Electric Tram from Bilbao to Durango and Arratia means going back to the last years of the 19th century, back in 1898, when the then Ministry of Public Works granted the concession to Ángel de Iturralde to put it into service. In said concession it was indicated that the tram would be powered by steam, something that was never carried out,” they add.

HISTORY

The Arratia tram was put into operation more than 120 years ago. Next November 30 will mark the sixtieth anniversary of his disappearance.. The first section of nine kilometers between Lemoa and Artea was provisionally inaugurated with animal traction, on September 2, 1899.

On July 5, 1902, the first electric test tram arrived in Durango, and a few weeks later the section between Lemoa and Zeanuri was electrified. On December 7, 1902, the definitive inauguration of the electric tram from Bilbao to Durango and Arratia took place.