Alicante Tram
Encyclopedia
The Alicante Metropolitan TRAM operates in the Spanish
city of Alicante
and its surrounding area and, like other narrow gauge railways in the Valencian Community
, is run by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana
(FGV). It was inaugurated on 15 August 2003 replacing narrow-gauge diesel trains between Alicante and El Campello
.
The Alicante Metropolitan TRAM combines different modes of rail services; a tram-train
, a metropolitan tramway
, a light metro through Alicante city centre, and a conventional train from Altea
to Dénia
. In the future it is also expected to include a bus rapid transit
(BRT) system, and create new metropolitan trams in Elche/Elx and Benidorm
.
The network comprises the following lines:
Lines L1, L3, and L3 use the city centre underground section, as parallel single track operations between MARQ Museum, Mercado/Mercat station and the city centre Luceros/Estels station, which were opened on 10 May 2007 and 18 June 2010 respectively.
(and a possible relocation of the bus station).
Line L2 (tram), using the same underground stretch as lines L1, L3 and L4, will connect the centre of Alicante with the University of Alicante
in San Vicente del Raspeig
. Construction has been completed, but services have not commenced due to delays in letting the contract to operate the line.
There are plans to extend the tram-train service southwards to Alicante Airport
, El Altet, Elx/Elche, Gran Alacant, Santa Pola
, Guardamar
and Torrevieja
. According to the local press it seems unlikely that any of this extension will be built in the near future due to lack of money.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
city of Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
and its surrounding area and, like other narrow gauge railways in the Valencian Community
Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in central and south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Valencia...
, is run by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana
Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana or FGV is a public Valencian railway company which operates several metre gauge lines, in the Autonomous Community of Valencia, in Spain....
(FGV). It was inaugurated on 15 August 2003 replacing narrow-gauge diesel trains between Alicante and El Campello
El Campello
El Campello is a town on the Costa Blanca of Spain, within the Valencian Community. It is a 20-minute tram ride from Alicante city. There is a busy marina and fish market, where people can go and purchase freshly caught seafood....
.
The Alicante Metropolitan TRAM combines different modes of rail services; a tram-train
Tram-train
A tram-train is a light-rail public transport system where trams run both on an urban tramway network and on main-line railways to combine the tram's flexibility and availability and the train's greater speed...
, a metropolitan tramway
Tramway
Tramway may refer to:* Tramway , a lightly laid railway for uses such as logging or mining * A system of trams * Aerial tramway...
, a light metro through Alicante city centre, and a conventional train from Altea
Altea
-External links:*, Portal de Altea*, Good Information-Guide of Altea - in German and English**, Photo gallery of Altea*, spherical Panorama of Altea...
to Dénia
Dénia
Dénia is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, the judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta...
. In the future it is also expected to include a bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
(BRT) system, and create new metropolitan trams in Elche/Elx and Benidorm
Benidorm
Benidorm is a coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Valencian community, Spain, by the Western Mediterranean....
.
Lines
- L1 (tram-train), limited-stop service to BenidormBenidormBenidorm is a coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Valencian community, Spain, by the Western Mediterranean....
(half-hourly), where it connects with line L9;
- L2 (tram), from Alicante city centre to Hospital, Alicante University and Sant Vicent del Raspeig (built, not operating yet);
- L3 (tram), stopping service to El CampelloEl CampelloEl Campello is a town on the Costa Blanca of Spain, within the Valencian Community. It is a 20-minute tram ride from Alicante city. There is a busy marina and fish market, where people can go and purchase freshly caught seafood....
(two to three times per hour) and Venta Lanuza (one train an hour);
- L4 (tram), from the Alicante city centre to a loop in Playa de San Juan (ValencianValencianValencian is the traditional and official name of the Catalan language in the Valencian Community. There are dialectical differences from standard Catalan, and under the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua has been established as its regulator...
: Platja de Sant Joan) district;
- 4L (suburban surface tram), from Alicante port, Puerta del Mar (Valencian Porta del Mar) through the site of the former FGV Railway station (La Marina) to Sangueta, where it connects with Lines L1, L3, and L4;
- L9 (diesel train), from BenidormBenidormBenidorm is a coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Valencian community, Spain, by the Western Mediterranean....
along the coast to DéniaDéniaDénia is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, the judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta...
, stopping at other important tourist towns like AlteaAltea-External links:*, Portal de Altea*, Good Information-Guide of Altea - in German and English**, Photo gallery of Altea*, spherical Panorama of Altea...
and Calp. Services are subject to disruption due to engineering works as the line is prepared for electrification.
Lines L1, L3, and L3 use the city centre underground section, as parallel single track operations between MARQ Museum, Mercado/Mercat station and the city centre Luceros/Estels station, which were opened on 10 May 2007 and 18 June 2010 respectively.
Construction and plans
The underground section is constructed to continue westward to Estació Multimodal serving the RENFE stationAlicante railway station
Alicante terminal is the central railway station of Alicante, Spain. Commonly referred locally as the RENFE station, the station is part of Adif system, and is a terminal station....
(and a possible relocation of the bus station).
Line L2 (tram), using the same underground stretch as lines L1, L3 and L4, will connect the centre of Alicante with the University of Alicante
University of Alicante
The University of Alicante was established in 1979 on the basis of the Center for University Studies , which was founded in 1968. The University main campus is located in San Vicente del Raspeig/Sant Vicent del Raspeig, bordering the city of Alicante to the north...
in San Vicente del Raspeig
San Vicente del Raspeig
San Vicente del Raspeig or Sant Vicent del Raspeig is a municipality located in the comarca of Alacantí, in the province of Alicante, Spain, inside the conurbation of Alicante city ....
. Construction has been completed, but services have not commenced due to delays in letting the contract to operate the line.
There are plans to extend the tram-train service southwards to Alicante Airport
Alicante Airport
Alicante Airport , , originally named El Altet, is the sixth busiest airport in Spain, and the main airport for the Province of Alicante and the Region of Murcia. The airport is situated southwest of Alicante and east of Elche in the municipality of Elche on Mediterranean coast. Up to eighty...
, El Altet, Elx/Elche, Gran Alacant, Santa Pola
Santa Pola
Santa Pola is a coastal town located in the comarca of Baix Vinalopó in the Valencian Community, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea...
, Guardamar
Guardamar del Segura
Guardamar del Segura or briefly Guardamar is a municipality of the province of Alicante located at the mouth of the river Segura in southern Valencia , Spain...
and Torrevieja
Torrevieja
Torrevieja is a seaside city and municipality located on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante, in south-eastern Spain.Torrevieja lies about 30 miles south of the city of Alicante and has a population of 104,000...
. According to the local press it seems unlikely that any of this extension will be built in the near future due to lack of money.
External links
- Tram Alicante Official website (English, Spanish, Valencian)
- Alacant On Rails - Blog about news, updates, and tram project projects in the city of Alicante