Basque railway begins ERTMS tests on Spain-France border line
Euskotren and infrastructure manager ETS have started night-time testing of ERTMS Level 1 on the Irun-Hendaye line in October 2025, marking the first implementation of the European standard signalling system on cross-border narrow-gauge infrastructure between Spain and France.
The tests involve one fully equipped trainset on the metre-gauge network, with two additional units under preparation.
The deployment will replace the Seltrac Euroloop system that has operated on the Basque network for nearly 30 years. Thales secured a EUR 13 million contract in November 2023 to supply the ERTMS equipment and establish a control centre with two control posts for the 200 km network.
The E2 line connects San Sebastián with the French border town of Hendaye, carrying four trains per hour between Lasarte-Oria and Irun, with two services continuing across the border.
Training push ahead of 2026 launch
Euskotren is training 260 drivers in ERTMS operations while ETS prepares 80 traffic controllers for centralised traffic management. The operators have installed two new ERTMS-specific simulators at facilities in Araso and Lebario, supplementing nine existing training simulators.
The new system will go live between Usurbil and Hendaye in the second half of 2026, extending to Zumaia in early 2027. Full network deployment across the Basque metre-gauge system will follow gradually, with total investment reaching EUR 70 million.
ERTMS offers operational improvements over the existing system, including dynamic speed profiles based on signals and switches, and remote speed control from the operations centre rather than manual field adjustments.
Outlook
Commercial service with ERTMS will begin once driver training and system validation are complete in the second half of 2026. The full network rollout is expected to continue gradually into the early 2030s.
Bottom Line
The Irun-Hendaye deployment demonstrates ERTMS implementation on non-standard gauge cross-border infrastructure, relevant for regional operators across the EU considering signalling upgrades. Signal suppliers and training providers should note the scale of the competence transfer required, with 340 staff undergoing certification for the new system.