Tag Archives: railway

A new history of the railways in the Levante

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Local historians Juan Antonio Soler and Andrew Devey have been working together for the last two years on a massive project to chart the mining development of the 19th century mines here in the east of the province. They have uncovered a huge amount of new detail and original photographs, which are about to be published in a book called The local greenways and the history of the mines, railway and cables etc. in the Continue reading A new history of the railways in the Levante→

Vera AVE station to be tiny – if at all

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The government has confirmed that it has no plans any more to build a large AVE station at Vera, as was the original plan, and although the station is still “probably” going to be built, it will be a simple platform affair rather than a full blown train station as was originally planned. The announcement came during a series of meetings with industry leaders in the province held this week by Manuel Niño, Sec Gen of Continue reading Vera AVE station to be tiny – if at all→

Almanzora railway could reopen

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The central government has confirmed that it is spending €100,000 on a study to see if it’s worthwhile reopening the Almanzora railway, which runs past Cantoria, Albox, Huercal Overa and eventually down to Pulpí. The Almanzora railway ran for a hundred years until it was closed in 1985 during the Spanish version of the Beeching report. Since then, it’s laid unused and abandoned. The central government has consistently refused permission to reuse the land for Continue reading Almanzora railway could reopen→

AVE back on – Pulpí to Cuevas line to be contracted out in October!

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The government announced this morning in the Senate that an 86 million euro tender to build a further 12,2 km stretch of AVE high speed railway between Pulpí and Cuevas del Almanzora will be issued in October. It’s pure propaganda ahead of next years elections, but welcome none the less, I suppose. The Almeria – Murcia line is divided up into many different section. The Cabrera tunnel section is finished, as is the Sorbas – Continue reading AVE back on – Pulpí to Cuevas line to be contracted out in October!→

Older rail lines are “in a dangerous state” warns ADIF

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120 million euros is needed this year to maintain Spain’s older railway lines to a minimum state warns a leaked document from the railway operator ADIF. The trouble is that so many resources are diverted to the high speed lines and the commuter lines, that the secondary lines are falling apart. As anyone who’s travelled on the Almería line can testify.

Leaked railways document confirms no plans for Almeria’s AVE

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A leaked document from ADIF, the railways operator, that Ideal newspaper got hold of, appears to confirm that those in power have no plans whatsoever to continue with the Almeria high speed train link. “Not one cent more for the railway in the province” according to Ideal. The document, which is a high level strategy document adjusting the national strategy for railways, says that the AVE to Murcia should be finished off, and then the Continue reading Leaked railways document confirms no plans for Almeria’s AVE→

Europe abandons Almeria’s AVE high speed train link

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We currently have 19 km of high speed train line built in the province – the bit from Sorbas to Garrucha.  It includes Spains second longest tunnel. You’ve seen it. It was originally a “priority” for Spain, when it was announced, and it was planned to be the coastal link of the “Meditterean Corridor”, a high speed rail link up and down the Med, from Portugal to Italy. Then the crisis hit. And, as we Continue reading Europe abandons Almeria’s AVE high speed train link→

RENFE to be broken up and private companies allowed onto Spanish railways

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The government has announced that it is to break RENFE, the national railways operator, up into four distinct business groups, and will permit private groups to operate rail services in Spain. The operation will be complete by July 2013. Spain currently has three public companies operating its railways: Renfe, the train operator, FEVE, which operates narrow gauge lines and ADIF, which maintains the network. FEVE will be dissolved and its operations passed to Adif and Continue reading RENFE to be broken up and private companies allowed onto Spanish railways→

Almeria and the Great Southern Spain Railway

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I recently came across this little gem of a book. Written by David Gaunt, a fellow who’s been coming to Mojacar for quite some time, it’s an enthusiastic book detailing the construction of the local railways at the turn of the last century, and how they affected the local villages and populations. Lots of photos and interviews. Well worth a read if you’re interested in the old railways or mines that litter this area. Buy Continue reading Almeria and the Great Southern Spain Railway→