Date Published: 13/08/2024
Government accelerates high-speed rail between AlmerÃa and Murcia
More than half the work to connect Andalucía and the Region of Murcia has already been completed
![Government accelerates high-speed rail between AlmerÃa and Murcia](https://murciatoday.com//images/articles/24/08/1000110393__11723554216_large.jpg)
The Spanish Government has assured that its plans to connect Almería and Murcia via a high-speed railway will come to fruition during the current legislative term, aiming to provide the Region with the most advanced rail infrastructure in the country.
During a visit to the Barranco del Cebollero viaduct in Níjar, Almería on Tuesday August 13, the Minister of Transport Óscar Puente, pointed out that more than half of the work on this project has already been completed, with all sections of the platform either finished or actively under construction.
The only exceptions are the Pulpí-Águilas branch and the stations of Totana and Almanzora-Vera, but these shouldn’t slow down the overall project.
“We have put out to tender, invested and made more progress than ever on this section. We are working with the aim of connecting Almería with Murcia during this legislative period via the most modern railway infrastructure in our country and having more efficient and sustainable mobility,” added Minister Puente.
The Murcia-Almería high-speed line, spanning 200 kilometres, is a key part of the Mediterranean Corridor and represents an investment of 3.5 billion euros. The Almería section alone stretches more than 100 kilometres, with ongoing work across three sub-sections totalling 69 kilometres and an investment of 463 million euros.
At the same time, the government is also advancing phase 2 of the railway integration works in Almería, with a budget of 166 million euros, while three other sections have already been completed.
Over the past six years, the Ministry has tendered 1,181 million euros for projects in Almería, a figure that Mr Puente explained is six times greater than that of the previous administration.
Beyond the Murcia connection, the Ministry is also working to improve rail links with Granada. Projects for the renovation of the Almería-Granada section and studies to enhance connectivity between Almería, Granada and Antequera in Málaga have already been initiated. These efforts will soon enable Almería to connect with Sevilla in less than three and a half hours.
In addition, work is being done in parallel to put the Granada gauge changer into service. This project will allow the arrival of the S-730 trains so that Almería has a direct connection, without transfers, and an increase of 3,668 weekly seats between Almería and Madrid before the end of this year.
Image: Adif
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