A section of tramline in the Spanish city of Benidorm (Comunidad Valenciana), has been electrified to reduce its carbon footprint. One of the tramline’s stops has been replaced with modern infrastructure, which makes it easier for travellers to change between bus and tram during their journey.
Electrification of tramline enhances green public transport in Benidorm, Spain
- 16 November 2021
‘A section of diesel tram circulation has been transformed into electric with the consequent environmental improvement. A new halt for the tram has been fitted out next to the Benidorm bus station, allowing users to switch between the two means of transport.’
Thanks to EU-funding, 1 350 m of the tramline now operates using electricity rather than diesel. The switch has reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emissions the trams release into the atmosphere.
In parallel, the construction of a new stop, Benidorm Intermodal, which replaced a previous stop, Disco Benidorm, has allowed for improvements to infrastructure. These include public gardens, accessibility ramps, bike lanes, and information screens – all within a few minutes’ walk of the city’s main bus station.
A popular service
Benidorm has a permanent population of around 70 000 inhabitants and is the fifth-most populous town in the Alicante region. It is a popular tourist destination.
The city has two tram services running through it, lines 1 and 9, serving tourists and commuters alike. According to the company that runs the service, the new Benidorm Intermodal stop was used by 25 000 travellers in its first year after opening.
This figure indicates that the number of travellers using the newly electrified section of tramline, which is on line 9, has doubled since the improvements were completed.
Safer and greener
These improvements have made the tram safer and more environmentally friendly. New security systems make it less likely for accidents to happen and newly installed lighting at the tram stop helps improve safety. A traveller information system with digital displays and a speaker system has been fitted in the new halt.
In terms of environmental benefits, it is estimated that electrification of the tramline section saves 29.6 metric tons of CO2 emissions every year.
Currently, line 9 is only partially electrified, and locomotives can switch between diesel or electricity, depending on which is available. But it is part of a more ambitious project to electrify the entire line linking Benidorm to Dénia, a smaller historical coastal city about 50 km away.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Electrification of Line 9 of Ferrocarriles De La Generalitat Valenciana Between the Stations of Benidorm and Intermodal Benidorm and Construction of a New Railway Halt” is EUR 3 156 932, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 578 466 through the “Comunidad Valenciana” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.