Óscar Puente oversees the final stages of construction on the new intermodal station in Almería, a key infrastructure project for high-speed rail.

Image: La Moncloa

PROGRESS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN CORRIDOR

The project, which has received significant European funding, will radically transform logistics and connectivity in the region. During his visit, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility observed the advanced stage of these strategic works that will integrate the railway into the city of Almería and consolidate its connection with the Mediterranean Corridor , thus boosting commercial and tourism opportunities in the province.

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The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente , accompanied by the Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament, Félix Bolaños , visited the railway integration works and the new intermodal station in Almería . This infrastructure project, now in its final phase of construction, represents a significant leap forward for logistics and passenger transport in southern Spain, paving the way for the imminent arrival of high-speed rail to the city.

The development of this project will, in its first phase, allow the restoration of traffic on the conventional line connecting Almería and Granada, a milestone that will be reached after the completion of the works and the necessary procedures. Meanwhile, work on the Almería-Murcia High-Speed ​​Line (HSL) continues at a good pace.

The minister emphasized the immense effort being made by Adif , assuring that the capital will have a "true intermodal hub" where bus transport, the conventional rail network, and high-speed rail will converge. As Óscar Puente himself highlighted, these actions are an "essential part of a much more ambitious project: the gateway to the Mediterranean Corridor in Almería."

To underscore the economic and social impact of this mega-project, the minister declared: “When we talk about the Mediterranean Corridor, we’re not just talking about kilometers of track. We’re talking about opportunities, about Almería companies being able to transport their products under better conditions, about students and workers having better connections, and about tourism finding a better-connected province. In short, about Almería taking its rightful place within the Spanish and European rail network . ”

A modern and efficient intermodal complex. The new intermodal station will be divided into two main structures. The rail operations building will have two floors, six tracks, and a surface area of ​​2.775 square meters. The modern bus terminal will have 26 bays distributed across 2.250 square meters. Currently, the roofs and structures of both buildings are practically complete.

This complex is complemented by an underground parking lot with capacity for 400 vehicles, which will be located under the bus station and will have both pedestrian and vehicular access, greatly facilitating urban flow.

Urban Integration and Space Recovery: Regarding the integration of the railway into the urban fabric, Adif is finalizing a new access channel via a 1,9-kilometer tunnel. This infrastructure will channel traffic from the already completed El Puche tunnel to Avenida del Mediterráneo, using a double track that combines standard and mixed gauge (three rails), making the simultaneous circulation of conventional and high-speed trains feasible.

This effort is part of the second phase of rail integration, driven by an agreement between Adif, Adif AV, the Regional Government of Andalusia, and the Almería City Council, which mobilizes a total investment of €235 million . Of this amount, the state entities are contributing €155 million. The advanced stage of completion—with more than 2 kilometers of track already installed out of a total of 8,7 km—has allowed the city to reclaim important public spaces and restore traffic flow on key arteries of the capital.

Progress on the Murcia-Almería High-Speed ​​Line and European Support: The overall context of the Mediterranean Corridor shows very significant investment figures. Adif AV has already executed more than €2.700 billion of a total planned investment exceeding €3.600 billion to complete the new Murcia-Almería High-Speed ​​Line . All sections of the railway platform are either finished or under construction, progressing rapidly towards electrification and the deployment of telecommunications ( GSM-R ) and signaling ( ERTMS ) systems.

It is worth noting that this entire network of infrastructure and connectivity has solid financial backing from the European Union, receiving funds from both the ERDF Programme and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan , which certifies the strategic relevance of the project at a continental level.