A FIVE-POINT plan to expand the Valencia rail network at a cost of Pts15bn was unveiled by the President of the Generalitat Valenciana Eduardo Zaplana in November. This sets out future priorities following the inauguration of the Line 3 cross-city tunnel in September (RG 11.98 p753). The regional government has allocated Pts12bn towards the plan, and hopes that the rest will come from the Ministry of Development.
The biggest element in the plan is the construction of metro Line 5 linking the airport to the city centre by way of Quart and Manises. Line 5 will also interchange with Line 1 and parallel Line 3 to the main Renfe station. It would then continue under the commercial district to Balcón al Mar.
Also included is a western extension of Line 3 to the centre of Torrent, and upgrading of the Torrent - Picassent section of Line 1.
The Renfe route between Aldaya and Xirivella will be modernised and converted to what Zaplana calls a ’quasi-metro’ with more frequent services and shorter journey times. Similarly, the Valencia - Silla line will also be modernised, with some sections put into tunnel to raise speeds and cut congestion through the towns of Alfafar-Benetússer and Sedaví.
