The long-awaited Mediterranean Corridor is beginning to take shape in one of its key sections: the one linking the coastline between Catalonia and the Valencian Community. The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has announced that by 2027, Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante will be connected by high-speed rail.
The big news for travelers is the drastic reduction in travel time. The journey between Barcelona and Valencia is expected to be completed in just two hours, considerably reducing the three to four hours it currently takes. The connection between Valencia and Alicante will also be shortened to around 50 minutes.
The tracks that will switch to international gauge
To achieve this milestone, the track change work must be completed to introduce international gauge (European standard) on several pending sections, especially between Tarragona and Castellón, and between Xàtiva and La Encina. This work is crucial not only for passenger transport, but also for the flow of goods to Europe, which is vital for the Catalan economy.
The project, in which more than 8,000 million euros have already been invested, will also enable the creation of a new high-speed local train service connecting Castellón, Valencia and Alicante, facilitating daily mobility in the neighboring region.
Despite the optimism and the “positive” progress of the works, there is an unavoidable counterpart. Minister Puente has confirmed that it will be necessary to interrupt the circulation at some points of the track between Barcelona and Valencia in the coming dates in order to complete the installation of the international gauge. The details of these disruptions will be announced in the near future.