[citation needed] The system was inaugurated in 1995, partially taking over a suburban railway line operated by Euskotren, first opened in 1887.

Other important interchange stations are Abando (connections to Cercanías and Feve commuter railway lines and Renfe's long distance services) and Santimami/San Mamés[11] (connections to Cercanías and the main bus terminal).

The network was planned to have two lines connecting Atxuri station with the westernmost parts of the city (at the time), each running via a different route.

[16] In 1983 the Basque Government approved a plan for transportation on the right bank of the Estuary of Bilbao, but its execution was delayed.

[16] A metro system was deemed to be the best way to improve congestion problems in the evolving and regenerating city.

The design for the underground stations was awarded to the architects Sir Norman Foster and partners in 1988 following an open competition.

The central Moyúa square was closed to pedestrians from 1990[17] to 1997[citation needed] due to construction activity.

The works were especially complicated in the neighborhoods of Deusto and San Inazio, where the cut and cover tunnel excavation slightly damaged some buildings, was very noisy, and caused severe traffic disruptions.

[5] By 5 July 1997 the total number of stations was 27 as Santutxu, Basarrate and Bolueta joined Gobela which had opened the previous year.

[19] After the conversion of the Bilbao-Plentzia railway into a rapid transit line, two level crossings remained.

It shares tracks with line 1 within Bilbao, splitting at San Ignazio, from where it runs to Santurtzi.

[36] There are plans to extend line 3 to the airport, taking advantage of the double-tracked tunnel built under Mount Artxanda opened in 2017.

The first phase would involve rebuilding Sondika station in order to allow trains on the Txorierri line to travel between Matiko and Lezama without the need to reverse.

[46] In 2018, a proposal was made to convert the existing Euskotren railway line between Usansolo and Etxebarri to metro standards.

[49] In late 2022, the works for the first three sections of the line, between Sarratu and Galdakao Hospital, were tendered for 240 million euro.

[53] Work on the tunnel is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2024, with a planned investment of 450 million euros.

[54] The Metro Bilbao network is divided into the following fare zones: Metro Bilbao offered special cards that are personal and cannot be transferred, replaced by Barik cards on 2017, with a time limit of 5 years since the date of issue.

[55] They can be obtained at any of the customer service offices of Metro Bilbao (located in the stations of Ansio, Casco Viejo, San Inazio and Areeta).

During June, July, August and September, the no-interruptions night service also works on Fridays.

The highest ridership was achieved in 2019, when 91 million trips were made on the metro (not counting line 3).

[citation needed] The busiest stations are Zazpikaleak/Casco Viejo, Santimami/San Mamés, Abando, Moyua and Indautxu; all in Bilbao, with a ridership of more than 5 million in 2022.

[61] Access to the metro is provided by fosteritos, glass structures affectionately named after the architect who designed them, Norman Foster.

These modern-looking tunnels stand attractive alongside the modern and innovative interior of the stations.

For example, the ticket line is in the same space as the trains, for this purpose steel structures called 'mezzanines' have been built over the tracks.

A distinctive signage system was created by Otl Aicher, which are responsible for the eye-catching masts bearing the Metro logo.

Inside each car 2+2 seats are arranged respectively vis-à-vis in the colors of the Corporate design – red and grey.

– discuss] The metro, like the commuter railroads in the region, is electrified at 1,500 V DC via overhead catenary.

For the newly constructed line 2, thirteen new trains were ordered from CAF and Adtranz (now parent company of ABB).