The Basque Railway Museum will reopen on Tuesday, June 2
The Basque Railway Museum, a Public Company dependent on the Basque Government, will reopen its facilities to the public on Tuesday, June 2.
As part of the process of adapting its various services to the measures put in place during the situation generated by Covid-19, Euskotren will reopen the Azpeitia Museum (Gipuzkoa) at 10:00 next Tuesday.
In addition, on Saturday, June 6, the 2020 Historical Trains season will open. Under normal circumstances, it would have started during the Easter holidays.
From June 2, the Euskotren Basque Railway Museum opening hours will be:
• Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 to 13:30 and 15:00 to 18:30
• Saturdays: 10:30 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:30
• Sundays and public holidays (except Mondays): 10:30 to 14:00.
On the other hand, the departure times of the regular Steam Train service, from Saturday, June 6, will be:
• Saturdays: 12:30 and 18:00.
• Sundays and public holidays (except Mondays): 12:30.
Since 1998, the Euskotren Basque Railway Museum has been operating the Valle de Urola Steam Train between the Azpeitia Museum and Lasao. This service is the only case of a tourist train in the Iberian Peninsula pulled by a coal fired steam engine. The service is provided altruistically by volunteers belonging to the Friends of the Basque Railway Museum Association.
Measures for visitors and staff during the period of coexistence with Covid-19
To ensure the safety of visitors and staff at the Basque Railway Museum in Azpeitia, and to maintain the necessary physical distance between people, due to the situation caused by Covid-19, the following active and passive measures have been established:
• Protective screens at reception.
• Hydrogel disinfectant dispensers at reception.
• Introduction of a completely circular itinerary indicated by means of arrows on the floor to prevent visitors to the Museum turning back and crossing paths with other visitors.
• Closure of exhibition rooms that have a limited capacity, in which it is not possible to guarantee adequate social distancing: uniform and railway clock collections.
• Enhanced cleaning of the facilities, especially of any elements that can be touched by visitors or museum staff.
• As in any other public enclosure, the mandatory use of face masks to access the Museum facilities.
In the first phase, and pending the evolution of the health situation, the guided tours and exhibitions of the mechanical workshop and the historical tram display will be suspended.
Measures in the Historical Train service
The capacity of the Historical Trains (in addition to steam train services, special diesel traction services that are usually provided) will be reduced to 50%, and the use of face masks will also be mandatory. If required by the large number of people wanting to use these services, the number of trips will be increased as necessary.
It is also possible to hire Historical Trains. In this case, we have also established a capacity limited to 50%, i.e. a maximum of 75 people each trip and all people must wear face masks.
Prices
As long as the current situation, which requires the closure of certain rooms and the suspension of guided tours or exhibitions, remains in force, the entrance fee to the Basque Railway Museum in Azpeitia is reduced from 3 euros to 2 euros. The price of Historical Train trips remains at €6 and the price to hire the trains is €450.
This year, the Basque Railway Museum has implemented a system to enjoy virtual visits to its exhibitions through its website www.euskotren.eus.
Public information
• Address of the Basque Railway Museum: No. 8, Julián Elorza St. (20730 AZPEITIA-GIPUZKOA).
• Telephone (information): 943 15 06 77
• Fax: 943 15 07 46
• E-mail museoa@euskotren.eus
• Website: www.euskotren.eus
