The Government considers that it is “essential” that the Valencia through tunnel enters service in 2050. “However, it would be advisable to have it before that date” as stated in the working document that the Ministry of Transport has prepared on the actions. to provide fluidity to rail traffic in the Valencian capital. This document, titled “Valencian arterial railway network”, makes it clear that 2050 is the deadline, but it should come into operation earlier for two reasons. The first is that with its operation "we improve local transportation with an estimated passenger recruitment of 15,600 travelers/day, inducing a similar figure in other means of public transportation due to the 'network effect'." Also because “we increased the capacity of the network, especially the Serrería road that would serve the port, making it more resilient against incidents.”
Minister Óscar Puente announced last Friday in Valencia that the decision has been made to extend the through tunnel, a railway infrastructure that is part of the Mediterranean corridor, a little longer than planned and to take that infrastructure through Albuixech. He also announced that before the end of 2024 the specifications will be ready to put out to tender the drafting of the Valencia Central Station project, a key piece of the city's new railway design. This new station, according to the ministry, "is necessary to exploit the through tunnel", and for its realization an investment of 1,000 million euros is planned, which will be financed entirely by ADIF.
The performance of the through tunnel is recognized as essential for the Mediterranean corridor and for the benefit of "metropolitan mobility." Its execution will also cost another 1,000 million euros and is in the “information study” phase. The other two actions in the study phase are the double València-Castellón platform, with an investment of 900 million euros (to which between 220 and 300 million must be added if part of the orchard is buried, according to the ministry) and the extension of the Serrería tunnel. In this case it is a “strictly urban action without benefits for the railway” of 100 million euros and that “is in the informative study phase and without a financing agreement.”
Regarding the extension of the through tunnel to Albuixech, the ministry's working document makes several observations. The first is the one referring to current legislation. “Law 5/2018, of March 6, of the Huerta indicates that newly implemented infrastructures and the modification and adaptation of existing ones will require a landscape integration study favorably informed by the department responsible for landscape matters and a favorable report. of the Huerta de València Council”. And it is noted that "the new infrastructures" must adapt to the patterns of the territory and the natural slopes of the land, avoiding slopes and platforms above the natural grade that hinder the perception of the orchard and the natural evacuation of water avenues. It will be preferable to route it underground or in a trench.”
In this regard, it is recalled that in the conversations held with the Generalitat Valenciana during the last legislature "an intermediate solution was proposed consisting of an extension of the tunnel of between 5 and 7 kilometers, to the beginning of the municipality of Albuixech." This solution will have “an economic impact of between 220 and 300 million euros.” It is also noted that this solution “was not transcribed in any formal agreement” and that “there is no guarantee of having a favorable report from the Council of the Huerta de València or the current government of the Generalitat Valenciana.” The ministry concludes that the definition of action in the orchard area “requires a more in-depth study, both technical and legal.” “Based on this study, see what type of agreements can be reached with the territory to undertake this infrastructure.”
The document concludes by detailing the actions of the ministry to activate in the shortest possible time the processing required to launch the project of the Central Station and the Vaència Through Tunnel “without affecting the Valencian orchard.”
