The works in the Encina knot, considered the vault key to enhance the Mediterranean Corridor, will begin on September 9. These are essential actions to connect the southeast of the peninsula with the northeast and the rest of the continent, which will also allow the two main cities of the Valencian Community to be linked at high speed: Valencia and Alicante.
As the Government commissioner for the development of the Mediterranean Corridor, Josep Vicent Boira, explained to La Vanguardia, these works will reduce the duration and journey between the two provincial capitals by almost half, which now takes two hours. A connection that, as explained by the Government delegate, Pilar Bernabé, could be underway in 2026. Both traveled to the La Encina station (Villena) to make this announcement, reaffirming the commitment of the current Government of Pedro Sánchez with the Mediterranean Corridor .
Boira, who described this work as "one of the most important" currently being carried out in Spain, explained that the planned actions include the complete renovation of the road infrastructure from La Encina to Xàtiva and the change from the current Iberian gauge to the standard, as well as the change from current voltage (3 kV in direct current) to the typical voltage of High Speed lines (25 kV in alternating current). The duration of the works will be 24 months, with which it is expected that, once the works are completed and all the railway security controls have been passed, in 2026 the high-speed service between the two cities can come into force, since the The road from Xàtiva to Valencia is already conditioned.
At the same time, and given that while these works are being undertaken, trains cannot pass, to maintain the services, a section of single track will be put into operation between Xàtiva and the La Encina junction which "with the actions carried out will allow the improvement of the Cercanías services on line C2”, explained Bernabé.
The actions carried out on this Iberian gauge track consisted of renewing the ballast, the sleepers and the rail, as well as renewing the hybrid catenary. In addition, the substations have been adapted and new security installations have been incorporated, completed with new interlocks in l'Alcúdia de Crespins and Montesa. An investment that has amounted to 505 million euros, highlighted Bernabé.
In this line, the Government delegate indicated that, since 2018, the Executive has invested 5,000 million in the Mediterranean Corridor, so that the infrastructure is already an "unstoppable reality". "It is the Government that has done the most for the Mediterranean Corridor, the one that has built the most kilometers and the one that has shown an absolute commitment to this much-needed infrastructure," emphasized the socialist leader.
The implementation of these works, yes, will have consequences in the day to day of the passengers, since the change of track while the works are being undertaken will force them to reschedule services -there will be an affectation of 20%- since not all trains will be able to pass. "With the aim of minimizing the effects for users as much as possible, Renfe has rescheduled the services and has proposed alternative road travel routes to reinforce the C2 Cercanías connection between the Xàtiva-L'Alcudia de Crespins – Moixent station," they explained. in a statement from the Government Delegation.
Thus, the unblocking of the La Encina junction is highly relevant for the Mediterranean Corridor, given that the La Encina – Xàtiva section is the key to connecting the southeast of the peninsula with the northeast and the rest of the continent. In this way, more than 4 million citizens of the southeast, plus potential tourists, will be able to use the European rail network, connecting with Valencia, Barcelona and the rest of Europe. "Exports will be made directly and sustainably on a single trans-European network, in standard gauge, improving its efficiency and sustainability. More than 9 million citizens, plus potential tourists, will be able to connect to the European network and travel at competitive times to Alicante, Murcia, Cartagena or Almería. The territories with the greatest commercial relations will be able to connect by train, quickly, over 900 kilometers, as well as the main ports of Spain," they explain from the Ministry of Transport.
The same sources confirm that the La Encina - Xàtiva section is also very relevant for freight traffic, as it connects the Mediterranean coast with the interior of the peninsula. Freight traffic between Valencia or Sagunt, with destination Madrid, Córdoba, Asturias, Sines (Lisbon), Valladolid or Seville, today makes this section one of the busiest national freight traffic, and with great potential to continue growing .
