NEXT MONTH is due to see completion of a 1?32?km light rail route in Sevilla, built in conjunction with a programme to pedestrianise streets in the historic core of the city. The first phase of Metro_Centro runs from Prado de San Sebasti?n to Plaza Nueva with two intermediate stops, and will be operated with a fleet of low-floor LRVs each accommodating 250 passengers and running every 4?min in the peaks. Costed at k56m including rolling stock, the project is being funded by Sevilla city council and the Andaluc?a regional government which is providing k30m. Future extensions are planned from Plaza Nueva to Alameda de H?rcules and Puente de la Barqueta, and from Prado de San Sebasti?n to the Renfe station at San Bernardo. Line 1 of the Sevilla metro will also serve Prado de San Sebasti?n. On January 31 a tunnel boring machine reached the site of the future station. Speaking on February 8, Mayor of Sevilla Alfredo S?nchez urged the regional government to begin tendering for design work on metro lines 2 and 3 so that construction work could start in 2009. The 12?9?km Line 2 would serve the east of the city and the airport, while the 11?6?km Line 3 would run from Pino Montano to Los Bermejales. As it would lie entirely within the city limits, the council is proposing that it should itself begin tendering as soon as possible for the circular Line 4.

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