New Murcia high-speed train station faces possible delay beyond 2026
Key parts of the El Carmen project are complete but several essential works are still ongoing
The long-awaited high-speed rail station in Murcia could face further delays, with several key parts of the project still under construction despite earlier promises that it would be ready soon.
The project is being led by Adif, the public body responsible for building and maintaining Spain’s railway network, including high-speed AVE lines and stations.
While major structural work is now complete, including the main tunnel and track between the station and Barriomar, officials have confirmed that a number of essential elements are still not finished.
These include the station’s interior architecture, installations within the main building and underground platforms, as well as safety systems inside the tunnel and the overhead power lines needed to run the trains.
According to the latest update from the technical committee overseeing the project, some of these works are close to completion, with tunnel safety systems around 92% finished and the overhead electrical line at just under 80%. However, other areas are still ongoing and will need to be completed before the station can open.
There are also administrative steps still to be resolved, including the transfer of land for an electricity connection that will power key safety systems in the tunnel. This has been described as essential before the station can begin operating.
Even once construction is fully completed, the station cannot open immediately. Spain’s railway safety authority will need to carry out testing on both the infrastructure and train movements, and operators such as Renfe will need to receive final authorisation to run services.
Earlier forecasts suggested the station could be operational by 2026, but with work still ongoing and payments scheduled into 2027, there is growing expectation that the opening could now be pushed back further.
Alongside the station works, plans for a new parking facility nearby have also been adjusted. Originally designed with three underground levels, the project has been scaled back to two due to ground conditions, with the layout widened to maintain the number of parking spaces.
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