Alicante tram expansion 1 Marisa Gracia Gimenez, Managing Director, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) at present has a 93km line in the province of Alicante, between Alicante and Denia, on which there are 44 stations and 18 units running. The Autonomous Community Authority's Ministry oí with an innovative integrated transport system, based on Infrastructures and Transports' development oí the Alicante the light rail system that allows tram units and train trams Metropolitan tram project is enabling the network run by to be combined . FGV to be modernised and extended and new sections to be incorporated . Two tram objectives In August 2003, the first 12.5km oí the tram service The overall design of the tram network envisages fulfilment between Alicante and El Campello were opened, preparing of two basic objectives.The first axis oí the tram entails the this section as a tram layout and getting under way the entry of the tram service into the city ofAlicante, to connect process oí extending this new transport system in the city the city centre with the closest municipalities .The building of of Alicante and on the rest of the line communicating this first phase will be formed around two lines, on which with Denia. modem tram units will run : Alicante Metropolitan tram service forms part oí the 2004-2010 Strategic Infrastructure Pían (PfE), undertaken Line 1 by the Generalitat Valenciana's Ministry of Infrastructures This line connects Alicante Multimodal station, where the and Transport . services oí RENFE, AVE and coaches are brought together, In Cine with the initiatives proposed in this plan, the with El Campello, vía Condomina .Apart from this line Generalitat Valenciana Autonomous Community Authority there are two different branch lines which connect this with is undertaking a programme of action intended to extend Puerta del Mar and with Cabo de Huertas (Avenida the metropolitan transport networks in the three main Costablanca) . metropolitan areas of the Valencian Community. The tram sets off underground from the future This programme is intended to provide the Metropolitan Multimodal Station and travels along the Avenida de la area of Valencia, Alicante and Castellón with a modern, Estación to its first stop beside the Plaza de los Luceros- energetically efficient transport system able to give a high ¡t then heads to Avenida Alfonso X El Sabio up to the degree oí accessibility to the whole population. intersection with Rambla Méndez Núñez, where the Market The development oí the Alicante Metropolitan tram 5tation, currently being built, is located, designed as an service enables the city oí Alicante and its su rroundings, by emblematic feature for Alicante and as a landmark oí the modernising and extending the Generalitat Valenciana's tram system . Alicante-Denia Railway line (FGV), to stand on a par with From the Market 5tation the line goes on towards the other majar European cities and become the first medium- Archaeological Museum Station, beside Avenida Vázquez sized Spanish urban centre (and the fifth city after Madrid, Mella and the Glorieta del Doctor Mas Magro. Barcelona,Valencia and Bilbao) to have a high capacity The tram then comes out onto the surface and soars transport system. ove r Avenida de Dé nia on an ove rhead cross ing . The line All in all, the tram service has an execution budget oí follows on by the Goteta canal, to later branch off more than ¬500 million and will provide the Alicante towards the sea as far as la Goteta stop, where the urban centre and the Benidorm-Altea-Denia coastal axis network has a connection with La Marina Station that wwvv_rnissellpublishing.coml 45 TRAM gives continuity te the tram fine as far as Puerta del great importante as a reference point for the users. Mar and aiso in the direction of El Campello new, with a branch which will enable travellers to get as far as Current service and foretast Cabo de Huertas . Alicante tram service runs every 20 minutes at peak hours and 30 minutes during the rest of the day on the Alicante-El Cine 2 Campello tram line .These services are modified when the This line starts out from the Multimodal 5tation to give new summer timetables are introduced from May and will be service te the Hospital, the Virgen del Carmen and Virgen extended during the nights of J une, July and August with del Remedio districts, the University Campus and San 'TRAMsnochador', the late night services, coinciding with the Vicente del Raspeig . Hogueras celebrations . The second axis of the tram links up the Multimodal These services will be extended with the arrival oí station with the Benidorm-Altea-Dénia axis by means of a the nine train-trams built by Alstom.The new units will semi-direct service and from 2006, as the present FCV layout start te run from the end of 2005 te early 2006, giving is adapted, will have the latest generation rolling stock known service on the Alicante-El Campello line (every 15 as train-trams . minutes and more frequently at peak hours), en the branch line to Cabo de Huertas (every 20 minutes) and Transport that fits its setting also heading for La Vila-Joiosa (every 30 minutes) leaving The introduction of a new rail-tram platform and the from Alicante . electrification of the layout is making it possible te replace At the end of the year the six refurbished units will the units of the traditional'trenet' local train service with be arriving te cover the La Vila-Joiosa-Denla line . modern tram cars which will in the future coexist with the Half way through 2006 the connection with Market train-trams . 5tation will come into operation (previously going by The urban development and re-arrangement of the space Marcl station) . through which the tram traveLs has meant a considerable The airn of the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport improvement as regards the safety, amenities and urban and the FCV is for a direct service to be abre to be opened aesthetics of the new layouts . between Alicante and Benidorm between the end of 2006 Along with the urban redevelopment the design and and early 2007, extending the connection with la Vila- functionality of the stops set along the traen layout takes on Joiosa and later en heading towards Altea. 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