SPAIN: The Ministry of Development has published details of the proposed extension of the standard gauge AVE route from Córdoba to Málaga. When complete, the line will allow AVE sets to reach the Mediterranean city from Madrid in 2h 21min compared with the 4h 10min now offered by gauge-convertible Talgo 200 services.
The 157 km alignment leaves the present AVE route 14 km from Córdoba and crosses the Guadalquivir river near Almodóvar del Río. A major viaduct will be needed at Puente Genil to cross the Genil river, and beyond Bobadilla there is a difficult section through the Sierra Yeguas demanding construction of two tunnels, one of which will be 7 km long. At Bobadilla there will be interchange with broad gauge services to Granada, Sevilla and Algeciras.
Tenders for engineering design of all 12 sections of the alignment were due to be published by mid-June.
- A new station called Las Delicias is to be built in the centre of Zaragoza for Madrid - Barcelona AVE services, replacing the present El Portillo station.
