Benidorm - Denia line FGV Costa Blanca

[Geoff P]

That track has now been laid, engineering trains have run on it.

 

 

[Neal Ball]

1 hour ago, Geoff P said:

That track has now been laid, engineering trains have run on it.

 

 

Thanks Geoff,

Isn’t there still a section missing, where a new viaduct needs to be built?

 

Regards, Neal.

[Geoff P]

Currently trains are  using the old viaduct which is going to have a new concrete one built next to it in the next (Spanish) months time.

[Neal Ball]

6 minutes ago, Geoff P said:

Currently trains are  using the old viaduct which is going to have a new concrete one built next to it in the next (Spanish) months time.

 

Are trains running through to Denia again then? I thought there was a bus replacement service?

[Geoff P]

Test trains running between Gata and Denia at night this week, although there was a press event this morning, Old stock being used, not for public as the new platforms are set for the height of the new tram trains and there;s about a foot difference in height.

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

Also, the road crossing immediately adjacent to Benidorm station is currently being converted to an underpass. A new improved version of traffic chaos is being played out as the road is closed, it is the main route into the old town and the commercial areas.

 

Mike.

[Neal Ball]

7 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Also, the road crossing immediately adjacent to Benidorm station is currently being converted to an underpass. A new improved version of traffic chaos is being played out as the road is closed, it is the main route into the old town and the commercial areas.

 

Mike.

Such a busy road, but better to do it now rather than the summer.

[Enterprisingwestern]

28 minutes ago, Neal Ball said:

Such a busy road, but better to do it now rather than the summer.

 

Guess when they started it, and guess when it will be finished?

Yup, 2 summers and one winter!

 

Mike.

[Neal Ball]

8 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Guess when they started it, and guess when it will be finished?

Yup, 2 summers and one winter!

 

Mike.

Ah! Excellent Spanish planning 🤣🤣

 

There was a FB post earlier, about the tram into Denia - due to start the service by the end of 2022 or early next year.

 

Im looking forward to a trip on it, we’ve not been for years by tram.

[Enterprisingwestern]

4 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Ah! Excellent Spanish planning 🤣🤣

 

There was a FB post earlier, about the tram into Denia - due to start the service by the end of 2022 or early next year.

 

Im looking forward to a trip on it, we’ve not been for years by tram.

 

If you fancy company and a pint!

 

Mike.

[Neal Ball]

On 03/11/2022 at 19:40, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

If you fancy company and a pint!

 

Mike.

 

Morning Mike,

 

I didn't post the newspaper article as it didn't really say anything new.

 

The plan is that services will restart towards the end of this year / early in 2023 over the whole line.

 

But you need to change train at Teulada.

 

The depot at Denia is being upgraded and work started last month and should take 4 months to complete.

 

In the photo (of Denia station), I can't see any overhead electric masts, so presumably you will always need to change at Teulada. There is no explanation of that, conversely although it says you need to change trains, it does not say it's a temporary measure.

 

Looking forward to a ride on the line.

[Geoff P]

It appears that one or two of the new units will be moved to Denia and run the Denia to Teulada section, with the lighter, old units running Teulada to Benidorm, where passengers for further south will change to the current electric trams. Denia maintenance facility will do routine servicing, fuelling etc on the new units working from there. Presumably these arrangements will continue until the new viaduct is built and commissioned.

 

[Neal Ball]

The Denia to Teulada section of the tram has now opened following the upgrade of the depot at Denia, according to todays Costa Blanca News.

 

It reads as if the section that has not opened is the Teulada to Benidorm stretch. (The Benidorm mayor is not happy). Presumably this is due to the crossing just outside the station being replaced with an underpass.

 

The newspaper report also says that in the coming weeks they will be going out to tender for a report on the viability of a Denia to Gandia tram line.

Edited January 20, 2023 by Neal Ball

[ellocoloco]

A link to the RENFE line at Gandia would be great, but this has been on the cards for years. A day trip Valencia, Xativa, Alicante, Gandia, Valencia would be great fun! With a detour to Alcoi...😊

[Rob K]

I am over there next week and will report back. 

[Rob K]

We went on the line today. We did Costera Pastor/ Benidorm and then Benidorm/ Denia.

Unfortunately they have started more work between Benidorm and Benidorm Intermodal ( started 16/1 no indication of end date, so bus is needed for that little bit.

Rest is good. You change stock at Teulada, different height carriage doors and hence built up platforms.

A new viaduct is still being built somewhere between Calpe and Benissa so old one still in use.

Masks still required until this weekend.

a couple of photos to follow I hope 

[Neal Ball]

Thanks very much Rob
 

Benidorm intermodal? Is that where the level crossing is being taken out? If so, it should be complete sometime in 2024.

[Enterprisingwestern]

2 hours ago, Neal Ball said:

Thanks very much Rob
 

Benidorm intermodal? Is that where the level crossing is being taken out? If so, it should be complete sometime in 2024.

 

Benidorm Intermodal is the posh name for the new single platform tram stop built adjacent to the bus station, the current, pardon the pun, extent of the electric wires, one of the reasons for the tunnel is to remove the height restriction at Benidorm station. It replaced the next stop down the line Disco Benidorm.

I'll nip down to the works tomorrow and take a few pics.

 

Mike.

[Rob K]

The Volta a Valencia bike race starts tomorrow and will be screened on Eurosport ( last couple of hours of each stage)

Stage one finishes in Altea heading south so should run very near the railway.. worth a look. Sadly you won’t see Altea station with its turntable, loco shed and NG rail waggon crane.

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

 

How I suffer for you all, just walking down from the tram works and accidentally fell into a pastelería 😁.

 

That aside, here a few pics hot off the press of the works, these should give an idea of what's going on, there are more but I didn't want to bore you.

 

 

A general view of the works from the old town side of Avda Berniada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few more from the bottom end.

 

More to follow.

 

Mike

 

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

 

From the country end, the existing track seems to have had deck cast around it whilst in situ, seems a tad unusual to me?, and the tunnel support beams in place at this end.

 

 

A view down the slope, progress is more advanced at this end presumably due to the easier access.

 

 

A delivery of beams can be seen in this view.

 

 

The parlous state of the excited service ducting, will it get replaced, in Spain who knows!

 

 

 

 

The reason there is a bus service between the two Benidorm stations!

 

Mike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Neal Ball]

Thanks very much for the photos Mike. It looks like it will be a while before those works are completed.

[Enterprisingwestern]

Those of you resident in Spain will know precisely when the pictures were taken by the absence of workmen, or indeed any form of movement. I reckon a 12 month completion date is a tad optimistic.

 

In the first picture of the works you'll notice a conglomeration of cones. In true Spanish fashion this is signed up as roundabout, when it's patently a centre divider to allow the buses on the rail replacement device to do a U turn, along with all the other Spanish drivers who venture up there ignoring the no access signs.

Problems occur when the typical average Spanish driver decides to not only venture up the road but to park there as well to do a bit of shopping, being totally ignorant of the implications of his thoughtlessness.

 

 

So what happens is, the buses already tight turn becomes an obstacle course worthy of the Krypton Factor, and a one swing turn becomes a five step shuffle, the bus here being in the middle of it.

 

 

The end result being that the bus has had a tussle with various bits of street furniture and now has a wing mirror blowing in the wind, unrepairable on site, so the driver pulled down the road a bit, parked up, called the bus company on his radio and abandoned ship.

 

Mike.

 

 

[Neal Ball]

35 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

Those of you resident in Spain will know precisely when the pictures were taken by the absence of workmen, or indeed any form of movement. I reckon a 12 month completion date is a tad optimistic.

 

In the first picture of the works you'll notice a conglomeration of cones. In true Spanish fashion this is signed up as roundabout, when it's patently a centre divider to allow the buses on the rail replacement device to do a U turn, along with all the other Spanish drivers who venture up there ignoring the no access signs.

Problems occur when the typical average Spanish driver decides to not only venture up the road but to park there as well to do a bit of shopping, being totally ignorant of the implications of his thoughtlessness.

 

 

So what happens is, the buses already tight turn becomes an obstacle course worthy of the Krypton Factor, and a one swing turn becomes a five step shuffle, the bus here being in the middle of it.

 

 

The end result being that the bus has had a tussle with various bits of street furniture and now has a wing mirror blowing in the wind, unrepairable on site, so the driver pulled down the road a bit, parked up, called the bus company on his radio and abandoned ship.

 

Mike.

 

 

 

Excellent report Mike, thats worthy of an article in Fridays Costa Blanca news!

[Rob K]

On 31/01/2023 at 18:16, Rob K said:

The Volta a Valencia bike race starts tomorrow and will be screened on Eurosport ( last couple of hours of each stage)

Stage one finishes in Altea heading south so should run very near the railway.. worth a look. Sadly you won’t see Altea station with its turntable, loco shed and NG rail waggon crane.

If you do have a chance to see the coverage.. great views of one of the new viaducts at 12.9 k to go