New high speed rail network to link Alicante - Madrid

The construction of a high-speed rail link between Alicante and Valencia along the coast, together with plans to build another high-speed rail link between the capital and Alicante, will one day make it possible to get from Benidorm to the Madrid in 2 hours.

The frequency of service is likely to depend on demand but it is hoped that the AVE connection will be added from Alicante to Benidorm to complete the service.

The proposed Alicante-Valencia link was the main focus of the press conference given today by the Minister for Infrastructure and the Mayor of Alicante, to explain the so-called 'Suburban Plan', a joint initiative between the Government and the Ministry of Development.

The connection between Madrid and Benidorm depends on both the completion of the Alicante-Valencia link (with stops in El Campello, Benidorm, Benissa, Teulada, Denia and Gandia) and the proposed AVE link between Madrid and Alicante.

For the proposed Gandia-Denia-Alicante section a joint venture will be set up between the Ministry of Public Works and the Generalitat, which will extend the line from Gandia to Denia, building new stations en route.

In total the project carries an investment of over 3.9 billion euros, and will create 139km of new track and extensions, 86 km of double track and will give ten more towns access to the suburban rail network.