High-speed rail derails: AVE between Murcia and Almería delayed beyond 2026
Experts have confirmed that no concrete end date can be set as the major engineering works remain a long way from finished
The long-awaited arrival of high-speed rail to Almería has hit another setback, as experts confirm that the AVE line between Murcia and Almería will not be completed by 2026, despite earlier commitments from Spain’s Ministry of Transport.
According to the analysis conducted by the technical advisory group of Objetivo Almería AVE-Corredor Mediterráneo, the main obstacles to the project lie in the complex works still underway in the cities of Almería and Lorca (Murcia), particularly the undergrounding of the railway lines.
During a recent meeting attended by 300 business leaders at the Science and Technology Park of Almería (PITA), the group highlighted that Lorca’s underground section is likely to be the critical factor determining when AVE services can eventually reach Almería.
Almería city is currently mired in a vast infrastructure engineering project to bury the train tracks underground to adapt the city for the arrival of the AVE, including the tearing down of several bridges that are still necessary to get from the old side of the city to the new.
While there has been notable progress on the Murcia-Lorca section, raising hopes that Murcia could still receive AVE trains by 2026, especially with the expected opening of the refurbished Carmen station this summer, the same cannot be said for the full route.
Despite this, there is cautious optimism in Almería province. The PITA group praised the “intense activity” along the line, with specialised equipment deployed across all excavation zones between Almería and Lorca.
In addition to the main rail line, attention has turned to the dry ports of Níjar and Pulpí. These logistic hubs are expected to be operational by December 2027 and May 2028 respectively, providing a boost to the regional transport network even as high-speed connections stall.
Meanwhile, concerns persist over the planned AVE route between Almería and Granada, particularly the stretch between Gérgal and Santa Fe. Experts warned that the gradients and design limitations could restrict train speeds to below 100kmh, raising questions about the overall effectiveness of the proposed ‘high-speed’ connection.
Although work continues, the latest update confirms what many had long feared: the journey to connect Almería to Spain’s high-speed rail network will be longer than promised, and remains without a firm destination date.
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