Madrid–Levante high-speed rail network

Facade of Valencia North Station.

The Madrid–Levante high-speed network is a network of high-speed rail lines that connects Madrid with the Mediterranean coast of the Levante Region, specifically with Castile–La Mancha, the Valencian Community and the Murcia Region autonomous communities.

The network extends from Madrid to the east, with branches ending in Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Murcia, Cartagena and continuing from Murcia to Almería.

When fully operational the Madrid-Levante network will total 940 km of high-speed rail capable of top speeds of 350 km/h in the majority of its segments.

Segments

Madrid–Levante high-speed rail network

Legend Fut. tunnel Atocha-Chamartin St. 0.0 Fut. Est. AV Atocha Station 0.0 Atocha Station Madrid-Barcelona AVE Bypass from/to Madrid-Barcelona 14.3 Los Gavilanes 24.4 Parla 28.0 Madrid-Seville Valdemorro Aranjuez-A. de San Juan line Tajo river El Regajal tunnel (2437 m) A40 highway Villarrubia de Santiago Aranjuez-Cuenca line A40 highway Aranjuez-Cuenca line A3 highway Tarancón Altomira mountain (768 m) Ciguela river Horcajada tunnel (3957 m) Horcajada Cabrejas tunnel (2020 m) Cuenca-F. Zóbel Station De la Vega creek Júcar river Loma Carrascal tunnel (2198 m) N320 road Del Bosque tunnel (3128 m) Motilla creek Monteagudo de las Salinas Tendero tunnel (1097 m) 251.6 Bif. Motilla del Palancar A3 Highway 321.7 Albacete (Vialia) Wide change from/to Alicante Iniesta Rodenillo gully (657 m) Huertas de Mateo A. La Peinería gully (387 m) Minglanilla tunnel (520 m) A3 Highway Embalse de Contreras viaduct Rabo de la Sartén tunnel Del Istmo viaduct (830 m) Villagordo Cabriel tunnel (3340 m) Magro River A3 Highway Madrid-Cuenca-Valencia line Requena-Utiel Station La Cabrera tunnel (7252 m) Buñol tunnel (1858 m) A3 Highway Chiva tunnel (663 m) Torrent tunnel (2290 m) Classic line to Madrid (C-3 line) 391.0 Valencia Central Station Classic line to Castellón Classic line to Xàtiva A7 Highway Alginet Júcar River Classic line to Valencia Xàtiva Upgraded track for 220 km/h La Encina Classic line to Alicante Nudo de la Encina Madrid-Alicante line Villena Station Barrancadas tunnel (2890 m) Vinalopó river (1481 m) Encina-Alicante line Monforte del Cid Bif. Monforte del Cid AP7 Highway Alicante Terminal Station Madrid-Elche line Alicante-Elche line Elche-Matola Station Alicante-Murcia Line Murcia del Carmen Station DIA phase Cartagena A-7 Highway Almería

Madrid - Cuenca - Motilla del Palancar - Valencia

The first 28 km of this 391 km line are shared with the existing Madrid-Sevilla high-speed rail line. The section onwards to Valencia was inaugurated on 15 December 2010 and entered service on 19 December 2010.

Thirty trains run every day, fifteen in each direction. 22 are non-stop services and eight call at intermediate stations.

Non-stop trains between Madrid and Valencia cover the 391 km (243 mi) in 1 hour and 40 minutes, saving two hours on the previous service of Alaris trains on the classic line.^[1]

The line is built to international gauge (1435mm), and electric powered at 25kV AC, with signalling ERTMS levels 1 and 2.

Valencia – Xàtiva

Segment under construction. Planned for mixed use (goods and passengers).^[2]

Xàtiva – Nudo de La Encina

This 41.2 km segment is in service with a maximum speed of 220 km/h.

Motilla del Palancar - Albacete

A 62.8 km segment between Cuenca and Albacete provinces. This section was inaugurated on 15 December and open to the public on 19 December 2010.

Albacete - Nudo de La Encina - Monforte del Cid - Alicante

The 171.5 km section from Albacete to Alicante opened in June 2013.^[3]

Monforte del Cid - Elche - Murcia - Cartagena

This segment to Murcia is in service since 2008.

Murcia - Almería

The main purpose of this line is to connect the Transversal Rail Line to the Madrid-Levante and Mediterranean Corridor rail lines. This segment is 184.3 km (108.1 km in Almeria province and 76.2 in Murcia Region).

Stations

AVE on the Albacete Station.

Madrid-Atocha

Madrid Atocha (Spanish: Estación de Madrid Atocha, also named Madrid Puerta de Atocha) is the largest railway station in Madrid. Atocha also hosts commuter trains (Cercanías), intercity and regional trains from the south, and AVE high-speed trains to Barcelona (Catalonia) and Seville (Andalusia).

These services are run by the national rail company, Renfe. The station is in the Atocha neighbourhood of the Arganzuela district.

Cuenca-Fernando Zóbel

This new station is 5 km from the city centre. It is named after painter Fernando Zóbel to commemorate his links to the city. The station occupies 3.950 m² with 8.900 m² of parking space.

Albacete

This restored station is 23.000 m² with a commercial area and parking space for 600 cars.^[4]

Requena-Utiel

A new 600 m² station was built with parking space for at least 250 cars.^[5] It brings the two small towns of Requena and Utiel on to the high-speed map./^[1]

Valencia Central Station

A new Valencia Central Station will be built that eventually replaces the existing Valencia North Station. It will be 12 tracks wide in 2 subterranean levels.^[6]

Elche-Matola

A 5.500 m² station planned for 2014. With parking space for 500 cars and 50 motorcycles.

Murcia

The new intermodal Murcia del Carmen Station will be close to the present station. It will be 8 rail tracks wide and will serve buses and local trains. ^[7]

See also

• AVE Spanish high-speed train service
• TGV French high-speed train service

References

External links

• AVE at the RENFE (Spanish)

High-speed rail in Spain
Lines in service	Madrid–Barcelona–Figueres Madrid–Valencia/Alicante Madrid–Seville Madrid–Málaga Madrid–Leon Barcelona–Perpignan Madrid–Toledo Atlantic Axis
Lines under construction	Madrid-Galicia Basque Y Mediterranean rail corridor Seville–Cádiz Andalusian transverse axis
Planned lines	Madrid–Lisbon Porto–Vigo
Rolling stock	S/100 S/102 S/103 (Siemens Velaro) S/112 S/114 S/120 , S/121 S/130 S/353 S/354 S/490
Services	AVE Avant Alvia Altaria Alaris Arco