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Madrid–Levante high-speed rail network

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The Madrid–Levante high-speed network is a network of high-speed rail lines that connects Madrid with the Mediterranean coast of the Levante Region, specifically with Castilla-La Mancha, the Valencian Community and the Murcia Region autonomous communities.

Madrid–Levante high-speed rail network
Current network in 2023 (in red)
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerAdif
LocaleSpain (Community of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha,
Valencian Community)
Termini
Service
TypeHigh-speed rail
Operator(s)Renfe Operadora
Rolling stock100, 112, and 130
Ridership5.4 million (2018)[1]
History
Opened18 December 2010 (Madrid-Albacete-Valencia)
17 June 2013 (Albacete-Alicante)
1 February 2021 (Villena-Elche-Orihuela)
1 July 2022 Túnel de la risa[2]
Technical
Line length603 km (375 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead catenary
Route map

Legend
length
in m
km
km
length
in m
Madrid-Valladolid AVE
Madrid Chamartin
0.0
0.5
7.3
 Madrid Atocha
Túnel de la risa
Madrid–Barcelona AVE
14.3
Los Gavilanes
24.4
Parla
28.0
Madrid–Seville AVE
40.3
42.5
Valdemorro
Aranjuez–Alcazar
de San Juan Line
Tagus River
El Regajal tunnel
2,437
Autovía A-40.svg A-40
84.6
Villarrubia de Santiago
Aranjuez–Cuenca line
Autovía A-40.svg A-40
Aranjuez–Cuenca line
Autovía A-3.svg A-3
118.6
Tarancón
Altomira tunnel
768
Ciguela River
Horcajada tunnel
3,957
164.8
Horcajada
Cabrejas tunnel
2,020
195.1
 Cuenca–Fernando Zóbel
De la Vega creek
Júcar River
Loma Carrascal tunnel
2,198
Cajetín N-320.svg N-320
Del Bosque tunnel
3,128
Motilla creek
224.7
Monteagudo de las Salinas
Tendero tunnel
1,097
251.6
Motilla del Palancar Junction
267.0
Iniesta
Rodenillo gully
657
Autovía A-3.svg A-3
Huertas de Mateo A.
La Peinería gully
387
Minglanilla tunnel
520
Autovía A-3.svg A-3
Pozorrubielos
de la Mancha
262.4
Embalse de Contreras viaduct
Rabo de la Sartén tunnel
Del Istmo viaduct
830
Villagordo Cabriel tunnel
3,340
310.5
PB Caudete de las Fuentes
Magro River
Autovía A-3.svg A-3
Madrid–Cuenca–Valencia line
327.5
 Requena-Utiel
La Cabrera tunnel
7,252
Buñol tunnel
1,858
Autovía A-3.svg A-3
Albacete-Los Llanos
(Vialia)
321.7
Chiva tunnel
663
Torrent tunnel
2,290
to Madrid
391.0
Autovía A-7.svg A-7
Alginet
397.6
 Valencia-Joaquín Sorolla
Júcar River
419.2
 Sagunto
Xàtiva
459.3
 Castellón Central
track upgraded
for 220 km/h
to Barcelona
La Encina
Nudo de la Encina
410.0
to Alicante
Madrid–Alicante line
Villena AV
435.5
2,890
Barrancadas tunnel
1,481
Vinalopó River
Encina–Alicante line
Autopista AP-31.svg AP-31
Murcia Junction
461.4
Vinalopó Junction
464.9
464.6
Monforte del Cid
0,488
Temerosa
472.3
Autopista AP-7.svg AP-7
Aspe
485.9
 Alicante
1,730
El Murón
473.9
0,371
El Carrús
478.0
1,288
Elche
478.5
Elche-Matola
482.2
Alicante-Murcia Line
Torrellano Junction
487.7
to Alicante
San Isidro-Albatera-Catral
493.6
Callosa de Segura-Cox
498.2
2,020
Callosa de Segura
Orihuela AVE
507.6
↓ single track from here
Beniel AVE
513.4
Variante del Reguerón
516.3
524.6
 Cartagena
Murcia del Carmen
529.8
junction upgraded
for 220 km/h
Autovía A-7.svg A-7
Lorca
Almanzora railway
to Águilas
1,965
Cadímar viaduct
7,538
Sorbas tunnels
Almería
length
in m
km
km
length
in m
Key
standard gauge
Iberian gauge
This diagram:

The network extends from Madrid to the east, with branches ending in Castellón, Alicante, Elche, Murcia, Cartagena and continuing from Murcia to Almería.

When fully operational the Madrid–Levante network will total 955 km (593 mi) of high-speed rail capable of top speeds of 350 km/h (217 mph) in the majority of its segments.[3]

Segments

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Madrid–Cuenca–Motilla del Palancar–Valencia

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The first 28 km (17 mi) of this 391 km (243 mi) line are shared with the existing Madrid–Seville high-speed rail line. The section onwards to Valencia was inaugurated on 15 December 2010 and entered service on 19 December 2010.

Thirty trains run every day, fifteen in each direction. 22 are non-stop services and the remaining eight call at intermediate stations.

Non-stop trains between Madrid and Valencia cover the 391 km (243 mi) in 1 hour and 40 minutes, saving two hours on the previous service of Alaris trains on the classic line.[4]

The line is built to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge, and electric powered at 25 kV AC, with signalling ERTMS levels 1 and 2.

During the 2007 works, the fossil site of Lo Hueco, Fuentes (Cuenca), was discovered. More than 10 000 fossils have been collected, almost half of which belong to titanosaurs comprising more than twenty sets of partial skeletons in anatomical connection or with a low dispersion of their skeletal elements.[5]

Valencia–Castellón

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This segment was inaugurated on 22 January 2018 and is a part of the Mediterranean Corridor. With this extension to Castellón a new AVE service Madrid-Castellón was introduced which cut the journey time between the two cities by further 30 minutes to total 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Four AVE trains per day are scheduled, two in each direction between Madrid and Castellón while this segment is also used by the Alvia service Gijón–Castellón.[6][7]

Valencia–Xàtiva

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This segment is under construction and planned for mixed use (goods and passengers).[8] The 52 km part between Torrent outside Valencia and Xàtiva, which is under construction since October 2002, was initially expected to be completed by end 2020 and it is designed for speeds up to 350 km/h.[9]

Xàtiva–Nudo de La Encina

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Since 9 September 2023 this 41.2 km (25.6 mi) segment is closed for modernisation works to high-speed rail standards. All traffic in this segment is now routed via the conventional Iberian-gauge line between Xàtiva and La Encina Hub.[10] Those modernization works including conversion to standard-gauge high speed line were initially expected to be completed by end 2022 and with additional works for adding a double track in the same section, those are now expected to be finished by begging 2025 at latest.[11]

Motilla del Palancar–Albacete

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A 62.8 km (39.0 mi) segment between Cuenca and Albacete provinces. This section was inaugurated on 15 December and open to the public on 19 December 2010.

Albacete–Nudo de La Encina–Monforte del Cid–Alicante

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The 171.5 km (106.6 mi) section from Albacete to Alicante opened in June 2013.[12]

Monforte del Cid–Elche–Murcia–Cartagena

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The segment between the municipality of Monforte del Cid in Alicante and Murcia has a length of 67.1 kilometres (41.7 mi), of which 46.2 km (28.7 mi) are located in the province of Alicante and the remaining 15.5 km (9.6 mi) in Murcia. It is a new segment of double track in standard gauge, suitable for speeds up to 350 km/h (217 mph). The 8.9 km (5.5 mi) long access section towards the new segment to Murcia had been in service since 2008, and was only used for Iberian gauge trains until the 1st February 2021, when the section linking Monforte del Cid, Elche and Orihuela - 48.4 km (30.1 mi) in total length - was inaugurated.[13] The continuation of the line up to Murcia put in service on 20 December 2022.[14] This section is fitted with three track rails, two of standard gauge and one of Iberian gauge.

Murcia–Almería

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Main article: Murcia–Almería high-speed rail line

The main purpose of this line is to connect the Transversal Rail Line to the Madrid-Levante and Mediterranean Corridor rail lines. This segment is 184.3 km (114.5 mi) (108.1 km (67.2 mi) in Almería Province and 76.2 km (47.3 mi) in Murcia Region).

Stations

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AVE in Albacete Station

Madrid-Atocha

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Madrid Atocha (Spanish: Estación de Madrid Atocha, also named Madrid Puerta de Atocha) is the largest railway station in Madrid. Atocha also hosts commuter trains (Cercanías), intercity and regional trains from the south, and AVE high-speed trains to Barcelona (Catalonia) and Seville (Andalusia).

These services are run by the national rail company, Renfe. The station is in the Atocha neighbourhood of the Arganzuela district.

Cuenca-Fernando Zóbel

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The Cuenca–Fernando Zóbel railway station is a new station, and is 5 km (3.1 mi) from the city centre. It is named after painter Fernando Zóbel to commemorate his links to the city. The station occupies 3.950 m2 with 8.900 m2 of parking space.

Albacete-Los Llanos

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Albacete-Los Llanos railway station is 23,000 m2 (250,000 sq ft) with a commercial area and parking space for 600 cars.[15]

Requena-Utiel

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A new 600 m2 (6,500 sq ft) station called Requena-Utiel was built with parking space for at least 250 cars.[16] It brings the two small towns of Requena and Utiel on to the high-speed map./[4]

Valencia Central Station

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A new Valencia Central Station will be built that eventually replaces the existing Valencia North station. It will be 12 tracks wide in 2 subterranean levels.[17]

Villena AV

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Located 6.5 km (4.0 mi) from Villena town centre.

Alicante

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Current terminus of the Alicante branch at the existing Alicante railway station.

Elche AV

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A 5,500 m2 (59,000 sq ft) station was planned for opening at the end of 2019,[18] with parking space for 500 cars and 50 motorcycles. This was subsequently delayed until 2021.[19]

Orihuela

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The existing railway station at Orihuela is served by the AVE line.[19]

Future expansion

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The network is under construction to expand to Cartagena[20] and to be connected to Almería in the Mediterranean Corridor by 2026.[21]

Stations

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Murcia

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The new intermodal Murcia del Carmen railway station is currently under construction at a cost of 11 million euros and will be close to the present station. It will be 8 rail tracks wide with underground platforms while the old station building is planned to serve buses and local trains. The new station is expected to be finished by 2024.[22][23]

Cartagena

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The current Cartagena railway station, located next to the old town is planned to be expanded with three new tracks next to the old building in order to host high speed services. Construction of the high speed railway between Murcia and Cartagena was scheduled since 2018 and planned to be complete by 2023 along with the new station, but still remain unfinished. The last 750m of the high speed track accessing the new station is going to be underground.[24][25]

See also

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  • AVE Spanish high-speed train service

References

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  1. ^ "El AVE Madrid-València, el que más sube, iguala en viajeros al de Sevilla". www.levante-emv.com (in Spanish). 19 January 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Spanish high-speed line Madrid – Orihuela opened". Railtech. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Líneas de alta velocidad, Línea Madrid - Castilla La Mancha - Comunidad Valenciana - Región de Murcia". ADIF. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b Fox, Brendan (December 2010). "New timetables in Europe". Modern Railways. London. pp. 74–77.
  5. ^ Ortega, F.; Bardet, N.; Barroso-Barcenilla, F.; Callapez, P.M.; Cambra-Moo, O.; Daviero- Gómez, V.; Díez Díaz, V.; Domingo, L.; Elvira, A.; Escaso, F.; García-Oliva, M.; Gómez, B.; Houssaye, A.; Knoll, F.; Marcos-Fernández, F.; Martín, M.; Mocho, P.; Narváez, I.; Pérez- García, A.; Peyrot, D.; Segura, M.; Serrano, H.; Torices, A.; Vidal, D.; Sanz, J.L. (2015). "The biota of the Upper Cretaceous site of "Lo Hueco" (Cuenca, Spain)". Journal of Iberian Geology. 41 (1). doi:10.5209/rev_JIGE.2015.v41.n1.48657. hdl:10486/675918.
  6. ^ Pablo García (22 January 2018). "Una avería para en Sagunto el AVE Madrid-Castellón en su estreno con Rajoy a bordo". El Independiente.
  7. ^ JANDRO ROURES (17 January 2018). "Rajoy inaugurará el lunes el AVE Castellón-Madrid que empezará a circular el martes con 4 trenes diarios". elmundo.es.
  8. ^ "Fed. castellano manchega de amigos del FFCC". Archived from the original on 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-12-20.
  9. ^ Ballester, Laura (15 November 2019). "El retraso del AVE entre València y Xàtiva obliga a invertir un millón en mantener la catenaria". levante-emv.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Adif y Adif AV inician actuaciones para completar el Corredor Mediterráneo entre València y Alicante, y conectarlas a Europa en alta velocidad" (in Spanish). www.adifaltavelocidad.es. 2 August 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  11. ^ "La Junta Directiva de AVE visita La Encina: las obras del Corredor avanzan pero no al ritmo deseado" (in Spanish). alicanteplaza.es. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  12. ^ "High speed to Alacant from June 18". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
  13. ^ "La Moncloa. 01/02/2021. Pedro Sánchez highlights government"s commitment to cohesion and territorial structure [President/News]". www.lamoncloa.gob.es. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  14. ^ "El AVE Madrid-Murcia comenzará el servicio comercial el próximo 20 de diciembre". Renfe. 12 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  15. ^ Nueva estación Vialia de Albacete[permanent dead link‍]
  16. ^ Nueva estación de Requena-Utiel Archived 2007-10-12 at archive.today
  17. ^ Nueva estación Central de Valencia
  18. ^ "Dos horas y media de Elche a Madrid, en AVE". Diario Información (in Spanish). 4 February 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  19. ^ a b "El AVE llegará a Orihuela en enero, con trenes lanzadera a la Región". La Verdad. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  20. ^ "First AVE high-speed trains in Murcia delayed until at least 2022". Murcia Today. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  21. ^ "Excavation of Murcia-Almeria high-speed AVE train tunnel gets underway". Murcia Today. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  22. ^ Buitrago, Manuel (21 October 2023). "Montan la cubierta de la estación del AVE de Murcia para que abra el año que viene". www.laverdad.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Actuaciones Ferroviarias: Nueva estación intermodal de Murcia El Carmen". www.murciaaltavelocidad.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  24. ^ "El AVE llegará soterrado a Cartagena en los últimos 750 metros y la estación se ampliará con tres nuevas vías". murciaplaza.com (in Spanish). 31 January 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  25. ^ "El AVE llegará a Cartagena con los últimos 800 metros soterrados en 2023". La Opinión de Murcia (in Spanish). 22 February 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
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