Fury over restoration vandalism at Almería’s historic train station

A planned restoration of Almería’s train station has caused outrage after it was noticed that historic elements have been cemented over A long awaited restoration of Almería’s historic train station has caused much controversy after it was noticed that elements of the façade have been crudely cemented over. The historic building saw scaffolding go up this week as the first phase of a much needed restoration project started. Works carried out by building company Jarquil Continue reading Fury over restoration vandalism at Almería’s historic train station

Junta approves “dry port” in Níjar, 3,400 jobs to be created

The Junta has approved the creation of a dry port in Níjar, which could create up to 3,400 jobs. We haven’t heard anything about this for ages and suddenly it pops up again. Question is: Where are the trains that will supply the port??? 174 hectares of land next to the motorway in Níjar has been set aside for this massive project. The idea is to create a logistical centre which will receive products from Continue reading Junta approves “dry port” in Níjar, 3,400 jobs to be created

Still no money for the AVE as government again doesn’t approve it…

The Cuevas-Pulpí bit of the AVE was going to be contracted out in the last quarter of 2014, according to a promise made by the Minister for Development Ana Pastor during her visit to Almería last year. Well, it wasn’t. The final meeting of the Council of Ministers in 2014 came and went, and the 12.5km stretch of high speed railway wasn’t discussed. Excuses vary, but eventually an official Development statement said that the issue Continue reading Still no money for the AVE as government again doesn’t approve it…

Vera AVE station to be tiny – if at all

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

Train U-Turn : AVE will be double tracked after all!

Some months after announcing that the AVE to Almería would be single line only, the government has made a sudden and unexplained U-Turn and promised that it will be double tracked after all. Nobody seems sure why the sudden turn around, unless it’s to allow the PP party in Almería to claim victory??? Or because since the government intends to privatise the Almería line, they’re afraid nobody will want a single line track. Anyway, the Continue reading Train U-Turn : AVE will be double tracked after all!

Almanzora railway could reopen

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

It’s official: the AVE will be single line only in Almeria

The government has announced that Almería will be the only AVE line in Spain that is single line only, in a shock announcement that seems to confirm that the expect traffic will be light, and that Almería won’t be connected to the rest of Andalucia by train. There are other bits of single line AVEs in Spain, but no other line will have single line platforms. The government has confirmed that all stations on the Continue reading It’s official: the AVE will be single line only in Almeria

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

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.

AVE tunnel is sealed off as it’s recognised we won’t get train this decade

The AVE tunnels under the Cabrera mountains in Sorbas are being sealed up, in order to protect them and save costs until work on the line can be restarted. ADIF, the railways operator, recognising that Almería probably won’t see a high speed train this decade, has decided the best thing to do is wall them up so it doesn’t have to worry about kids getting in, etc.

Quiet carriages introduced to the AVE

That most treasured hang-over from British Rail days, the “silent carriage” has finally arrived to Spains most treasured transport institution – the AVE (high speed train network) will start having shaduppaurface carriages. Mobile phones will be prohibited inside these temples to silence, lights will be dimmed and the official announcements turned down to a whisper.