The Fight to Improve Rail Connectivity Along The Costa del Sol Is Being Wage On Two Fronts, Both with Uncertain Horizons. First, The Long-Awaited New Railway Corridor Between Nerja and Campo de Gibraltar, The Study of Alternatives for Which has Recently Been Awarded for 991,911 euros (VAT Sales Tax Included) to the Joint Venture Formed By Consultancy Firms Wsp Spain-Apia and Multicriteri-Mcrit. The Study is expectted to be completed in 2026.

The Second Addresses The Potential for Improving The Existing Line Between Malaga City and Fuengirola. It is a complex contract that includes three Aspects. First, A Study of Alternatives to define The Best Technical Solution. Once One of Them Has Been Chosen By State Railway Infrastructure Company Adif, The Construction Project Will Be Drown Up. The Government has just formalized the contract related to these Technical Documents, which Also Includes Technical Assistance During the Construction Phase, Altchoough The Current Works Will Be subject to A Separate Tender. In Any Case, The Laying of Double Tracks on the Short-Distance Cercanías Line Between Malaga Airport and Camp Benítez Will Take More than Three Years to Complete. The Process Began in July Last Year.

Formalisation

The 1.3-Million-Euro (Including VAT) Contract Was Signed with TPF GETENSA EUROESTUDIOS ON 22 APIL. The Work, which is highly complex, Given the Surface Area it Will Management of a Line That Served No Fewer Than 16 Million Passengers Last Year.

Strong Demand

The C1 Commuter Line Registered More than 80% Usage in 2022, Which Makes The Demand for Expansion Clear. This Will require an increase in the Number of Seats, Eith -Through More Frequent Services or Higher Capacity Trains. The Government is Currently Studying the Possibility of Launching Double-Height Trains to Fulfil This Demand.

No improvement to timetables

“However, This Line Has Several Single-Track Sections That Make It Impossible To Offer Service Frequencies Shorter Than One Train Every 20 Minutes. In Addition, Sub Sub Stations do not have Platforms Long Enough To Accommodate 100-Metre-Long Trains Unlike The Current 80-Meter Trains, Case with Benalmádena Station. Frequency.

This is not the first time that central government has Undertaken The Difficul Task of Laying Double Tracks. During the Early 2000s, It Carried Out Such an Action in Three Stretches of 17 Kilometres, Which Made It Posasible To Reduces The Time Between Trains From 30 to 20 minute.

PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

The section to be improved is 2.8 kilometers long and allows operating speeeds of 90km/h.

The Work Will Mainly Involve Doubling the Track, Renewing the Existing Track, Electrification, Demolishing The San Julián Stop, Building A New Platform and Subway Between Platforms at The Plaza Mayor Stop, Among Other Actions. Widened, etc.).

“Different Alternatives Will Be Developed for the Entire Length of the Project, Taking into account at a minimum: The Connection Points With The Existing Alignment; The Various Options For The New Structure Required To Cross The N-340 Road; The Possibilities for Expanding or Replace Road of the Loma de San Julián; Major Shopping Center (…) “

The Analysis Will Have to Study Questions on Drainage, Maintenance, Expropriaction, Environmental Impact, Ease of Construction, Costs, Impact On Railway Operation, etc.