Transport in Andorra
Encyclopedia
Andorra
is a landlocked country in Europe
, whose transport infrastructure is largely road-based.
Andorra has no railways, although the line connecting Latour-de-Carol
and Toulouse
, which in turn connects to France's TGV
s at Toulouse, runs within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of the Andorran border. Two stations in France are connected by bus to Andorra la Vella
— L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
(served by the SNCF
) and Latour-de-Carol, served by both SNCF's line to Toulouse and Spain's (RENFE's
) line to Barcelona
.
A new public transport system, "Metro Aeri", was proposed by the government in 2004, but has not been built. It would have been an elevated cable metro system that would glide above the city's river.
) goes through the Envalira pass, which is 2409 metres (7,903.5 ft) high but nevertheless open all year round as it has a tunnel as well. The two main roads out of Andorra la Vella
are the CG-1 to the Spanish border, and the CG-2 to the French border via the Envalira Tunnel near Pas de la Casa
. In winter, the main roads in Andorra are usually quickly cleared of snow and remain accessible, but the main road out of Andorra on the French side (RN-20
/22
) is less frequently cleared and is sometimes closed by avalanches. Other main roads out of Andorra la Vella are the CG-3 and CG-4 to Arcalis and Pal
, respectively. Secondary roads and trails also cross the border but are sometimes closed in winter because of deep snows.
Bus services cover all metropolitan areas and many rural communities, with services on most major routes running half-hourly or more frequently during peak travel times. There are frequent long-distance bus services from Andorra to Barcelona
and Barcelona Airport, and also to Toulouse
and Toulouse Airport, in each case taking approximately 3 hours. Bus routes also serve Girona Airport and Portugal via Lleida
. Bus services are mostly run by private companies, but some local ones are operated by the government. The private bus companies are Autocars Nadal, Camino Bus, Cooperativa Interurbana Andorrana, Eurolines, Hispano Andorrana, and Novatel.
and Barcelona
in Spain, and to Perpignan
in
France. Among several cable cars
, the most important operates between Encamp and Engolasters Lake.
, La Massana
, and Escaldes-Engordany
—that provide commercial helicopter services. The nearest airports are at Perpignan, France (156 km from Andorra) and Lleida
, Spain (160 km from Andorra). The largest nearby airports are at Toulouse
, France (165 km from Andorra) and Barcelona, Spain (215 km from Andorra). There are hourly bus services from both Barcelona and Toulouse airports to Andorra.
An airfield at La Seu d'Urgell, 12 km from the Andorra–Spain border and 24 km from Andorra la Vella, is the site of a proposed new airport to serve Andorra and the Pyrenees.
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
is a landlocked country in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, whose transport infrastructure is largely road-based.
Railways
Latour-de-Carol
Latour-de-Carol is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-Transport:The village's main claim to fame is as the site of the international railway station, Gare de Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg...
and Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, which in turn connects to France's TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
s at Toulouse, runs within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of the Andorran border. Two stations in France are connected by bus to Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella is the capital of the Co-principality of Andorra, and is located high in the east Pyrenees between France and Spain. It is also the name of the parish that surrounds the capital....
— L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre
L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre is a commune in the Ariège department in southwestern France.The commune has a history of vulnerability to avalanches in winter. Avalanches hit the commune in 1895 killing 12, and again in 1906 and 1929. Avalanches have also closed the RN-20 road.-Population:-References:*...
(served by the SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
) and Latour-de-Carol, served by both SNCF's line to Toulouse and Spain's (RENFE's
RENFE
Renfe Operadora is the state-owned company which operates freight and passenger trains on the 1668-mm "Iberian gauge" and 1435-mm "European gauge" networks of the Spanish national railway infrastructure company ADIF .- History :The name RENFE is derived from that of the former Spanish National...
) line to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
A new public transport system, "Metro Aeri", was proposed by the government in 2004, but has not been built. It would have been an elevated cable metro system that would glide above the city's river.
Roads
Andorra has a network of roads, with a total length of 269 km (167.1 mi), of which 198 km (123 mi) are paved, leaving 71 km (44.1 mi) of unpaved road. The main road to the north (FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) goes through the Envalira pass, which is 2409 metres (7,903.5 ft) high but nevertheless open all year round as it has a tunnel as well. The two main roads out of Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella is the capital of the Co-principality of Andorra, and is located high in the east Pyrenees between France and Spain. It is also the name of the parish that surrounds the capital....
are the CG-1 to the Spanish border, and the CG-2 to the French border via the Envalira Tunnel near Pas de la Casa
Pas de la Casa
El Pas de la Casa is a ski resort , town, and mountain pass in the Encamp parish of Andorra, lying on the border with France. Its name literally translates as "the pass of the house" and refers to the fact that until the early twentieth century there was only a single shepherd's hut overlooking...
. In winter, the main roads in Andorra are usually quickly cleared of snow and remain accessible, but the main road out of Andorra on the French side (RN-20
Route nationale 20
The Route nationale 20 is a trunk road between Paris and the frontier with Spain heading south through the heart of France and passing through the Cathedral City of Orléans and Toulouse. The road forks at Col de Puymorens with one branch being the Route nationale 22 which leads to Andorra...
/22
Route nationale 22
The Route nationale 22 is a highway in southern France, connecting l'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre to Pas de la Casa in the Principality of Andorra...
) is less frequently cleared and is sometimes closed by avalanches. Other main roads out of Andorra la Vella are the CG-3 and CG-4 to Arcalis and Pal
Pal, Andorra
Pal is a village in Andorra, located in the parish of La Massana 4 km west of the town of La Massana, close to the border with Spain at Tor, Pallars.A legend says that Pal was discovered by a man of Riberaygua Familly....
, respectively. Secondary roads and trails also cross the border but are sometimes closed in winter because of deep snows.
Bus services cover all metropolitan areas and many rural communities, with services on most major routes running half-hourly or more frequently during peak travel times. There are frequent long-distance bus services from Andorra to Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
and Barcelona Airport, and also to Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
and Toulouse Airport, in each case taking approximately 3 hours. Bus routes also serve Girona Airport and Portugal via Lleida
Lleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
. Bus services are mostly run by private companies, but some local ones are operated by the government. The private bus companies are Autocars Nadal, Camino Bus, Cooperativa Interurbana Andorrana, Eurolines, Hispano Andorrana, and Novatel.
Mass transit
Buses, the principal means of mass transit, provide regular service to la Seu d'UrgellLa Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell is a town located in the Catalan Pyrenees in Spain. La Seu d'Urgell is also the capital of the comarca Alt Urgell, head of the judicial district of la Seu d'Urgell and the seat of Bishop of Urgell, one of the Andorra co-princes...
and Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
in Spain, and to Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
in
France. Among several cable cars
Aerial tramway
An aerial tramway , cable car , ropeway or aerial tram is a type of aerial lift which uses one or two stationary ropes for support while a third moving rope provides propulsion...
, the most important operates between Encamp and Engolasters Lake.
Airways
Andorra does not have any airports for fixed-wing aircraft. There are, however, three heliports— in ArinsalArinsal
Arinsal is a village in Andorra, set at an altitude of between 1550 and 2560 metres, close to the border with Spain at Tor, Pallars. In the summer Arinsal is home to walkers and bikers, as well as those who just want to relax in the mountain scenery...
, La Massana
La Massana
La Massana is one of the seven parishes of the Principality of Andorra. It is located in the northwest of the country. . La Massana is also the name of the main town of the parish. The name Massana derives from the Latin name mattianam for a variety of apple.The parish is extremely mountainous and...
, and Escaldes-Engordany
Escaldes-Engordany
Escaldes-Engordany is one of the parishes of Andorra. The parish is composed of the areas of les Escaldes, Engordany, Els Vilars d'Engordany, Engolasters, and El Fener. As of 2005 it has a population of 16,918. Notable events include the town's annual jazz festival....
—that provide commercial helicopter services. The nearest airports are at Perpignan, France (156 km from Andorra) and Lleida
Lleida-Alguaire Airport
Lleida-Alguaire Airport is an airport located in Alguaire, 15 km from the centre of Lleida .Lleida-Alguaire has been designed as a regional airport to provide both passenger and cargo transport to Western Catalonia , Andorra and some counties of La Franja....
, Spain (160 km from Andorra). The largest nearby airports are at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, France (165 km from Andorra) and Barcelona, Spain (215 km from Andorra). There are hourly bus services from both Barcelona and Toulouse airports to Andorra.
An airfield at La Seu d'Urgell, 12 km from the Andorra–Spain border and 24 km from Andorra la Vella, is the site of a proposed new airport to serve Andorra and the Pyrenees.
External links
- Andorra Public Transport (in multiple languages)
- Transport ministry of Andorra