Spain clears environmental study for Alicante–Elche railway variant

The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITERD) issued an official environmental impact declaration for the Alicante‑Elche railway variant, publishing it in the BOE. The approval allows the project to move forward with planning and future construction contracts.

The first phase, linking Alicante and Elche to Miguel Hernández Airport, was awarded in February 2023 to a joint venture of Geocontrol and Inse Rail for €2.48 million, with a 38‑month deadline that is nearing completion. The design contract for the second phase, extending the line to Alicante Terminus and enabling the removal of coastal tracks, was granted to TYlin Spain for €5.1 million, with work to start this summer and run for 24 months. Completion of the second phase is projected for the second half of 2028, after which the new alignment will be ready for subsequent construction tenders. Initial cost estimates for the whole scheme were around €397 million, though the final budget remains open.