Re: Train development news
 

Granada has bits and pieces of its Metro down, even to the plastic grass. The engine sheds and cleaning station are completed and moth-balled whilst they finish the missing bits. The Camino de Ronda was the sticky bit because that was an underground section, but most of that is finished now and the treatment of the road that has been re-instated makes for a very open thoroughfare, with plenty of bus stops. Some local businesses have gone because the works were a major deterrent to shoppers, but most have hung in there. It was the dust and pile-driving that drove the BH to move to another part of town.

If only they would stop prevaricating about the AVE and the Railway Station. The old original station is an underused piece of real estate near to the centre of the city that needs an overhaul, the new Metro goes right to it.
But there are still mutterings about building an AVE station a few km away - in a residential area, the Metro doesn't go past, and it will cost many more €millions than taking the AVE right into the existing facility.

Re: Train development news
 

If you look at the Costa Blanca up through Benidorm, Calpe, Denia and then on to Gandia there is marked lack of rail and this is a significant area that is well populated. That's where the money should be spent, here and similar areas of Spain that badly need better links.

Re: Train development news
 

Look at Algeciras Spains second largest container port and 8th in Europe 2010 plus it is also one of the busiest passenger ports and it is served by a single track railway

Re: Train development news
 

Should HAVE been spent.
Bit late now I'm afraid.
No doubt it will happen one day, but there again Climate Change may have turned Spain into a desert by then. :cool:

Re: Train development news
 

So basically you want more rail links for tourists and foreigners?

Spain has led the world in public transport projects over the past 20 years. Probably only China has invested more. Not every area can have great rail links

You have to realise that British expats dont live in economically vibrant areas. It makes no sense to build really expensive railways so just a few British pensioners can have a day trip

Re: Train development news
 

What absolute rubbish,..as usual.

Johnny Foreigner has already paid big bucks into the vanity project via the EU and has also forked out truck loads of money into the Spanish economy itself over many years.

You obviously haven't a clue with regard to the areas referred to or else you would be aware that they also attract a substantial number of Spanish tourists in addition to large number of Spanish residents who are the main users what rail transport is available in those areas.

Re: Train development news
 

Right, so you've done a detailed viability study? Then present it to the local government ;)

Re: Train development news
 

Surely it would have been wise for a detailed viability study to have been carried out before pouring money down the drain on parts of the AVE project that have already failed and others that are clearly nonviable.

No I haven't done a viability study myself, I was merely pointing out that you hadn't a clue what you were talking about, but simply thought you'd seen an opportunity to spout your usual snide remarks regarding expats.

Re: Train development news
 

Not at all, although you must not forget the economic benefits tourism brings. The coastal link from Valencia to Alicante has been pursued by the local politicians because of the economic benefits it would bring in addition to the increase in tourism. The same applies to the cut back in road upgrades. Incidentally it is not a deprived area as you seem to think and supports a substantial local population that would be the main beneficiaries of some sensible investment in the transport infrastructure.
I am pro-spending on infrastructure projects but just believe the Spanish have their priorities wrong.

Re: Train development news
 

I live between Valencia and Gandia, I know no English so my information is purely from Spanish people who use the trains a lot to visit these two places. However, they constantly bemoan the fact that they cannot travel further south on the trains and therefore either need to rely on family to take them in the car or find buses. They are reluctant to use the buses as this means a long and tiring journey due to the many stops on the way. For example Benidorm is an hour away by car but would take several hours by bus.

So nothing at all to do with tourism but 100% about locals wanting to travel to places by train.

Rosemary

Re: Train development news
 

Actually, although it is only a single track (mostly, there are passing loops at most stations), the Ronda/Algeciras line is probably sufficient for the needs of Algeciras at the moment - I just hope they keep it open.

Perhaps opening up access to less 'economically vibrant' areas should be considered instead of improving facilities for those areas that self-evidently are already doing OK.

La Linea really needs a hand at the moment - a rail terminal (there is already an unused track) would be a godsend to La Linea and well used by the hundreds who commute to Gibraltar daily. So that's not going to happen...

Also, most of us realise that the unserved resorts on the southern CDS (Marbella, Estepona etc. are largely SPANISH resorts)...

Re: Train development news
 

Have to agree with CM - we've seen major metro and tram systems put in various Spanish cities now, like Valencia, Bilbao, Zaragoza etc. as well as the expansion of lines in Madrid and Barcelona
If the Spanish had started putting new train lines in tourist areas (closed 3- 6 months of the year remember) we'd have the usual brigade on here moaning - look only 5 passengers a day in January or March! So the Spanish in fact have their priorities right. You don't get new train lines proposed in somewhere like Cornwall or south-west Wales, and neither should you do for tourist areas of Spain.

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i) They are not solely tourist areas and would have a year round usage.
ii) My comment was not anti Spain but my honest opinion so I shall not defend Network rail as we all know where that shall lead.

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I'm not trying to criticise either country. Just pointing out that the logic is the same for places like Cornwall and the south west of Wales, as for tourist areas of Spain. There are people who choose to live there all year round, yes, but even so the numbers are drastically reduced in much of the winter months compared to 3 or 4 months high season. You can't justify new train lines under those circumstances, nor keep lines open that are only used by a score of people each day.

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Yes, who almost all arrive my car

What would be the point of a rail line?