ARCHIVED - Planned AVE high-speed rail tunnel in Lorca extended to 2.9 kilometres
The underground stretch of track will run from San Diego in the east to beyond the RM-11 in the west
Documentation published on Thursday by Spain’s Ministry of Transport states that the AVE high-speed rail line in Lorca will run under ground for a distance of 2.9 kilometres, clarifying that the construction option chosen is an adaptation of the one which has been known as “Alternativa 2” in the decision-making process.
This means that the tracks will run in a tunnel from the new station of San Diego in the east of the city to beyond the RM-11 motorway in the west, including a 350-metre stretch of track where additional covering will be added on its northern side. It is this area which leads to the underground section having been extended to 2,900 metres, adapting the previous version of the plans which was presented in November 2018 and has been reviewed at the request of the Town Hall of Lorca.
The underground route will also mean a re-modelling of the main Sutullena station in Lorca, which in future will be re-located underneath its present site although the existing historic building is to be preserved.
Following the completion of the tunnel, the land above will be remodelled to include new urban spaces including green areas, and streets will run across an area which until now has divided the city of Lorca in two.
Images: The planned route and the new underground tunnel running into Murcia City which is nearing completion