A new metro and tram line will link the centre of the Spanish city of Valencia with the port to the south-east, connecting cultural and administrative centres along the way.
- 11 October 2021
‘The line will connect the city centre with Natzaret and other neighborhoods such as Cuatro Carreras and Monteolivete, which will structure Valencia in a sustainable way. It will provide better connections between the cultural, tourist and administrative centres, such as the City of Justice and the City of Arts and Sciences.’
The new line 10 will begin in a double-track tunnel at the main Xàtiva station, at the northern end of Alicante Street and exit on a double tramway line. Eight stops will be built, including near the Ciudad de la Justicia (Palace of Justice) and the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences). The line will end at the port station of Natzaret.
Once completed, the line will have a total length of 5.3 km, with three underground and five surface stops.
Access to the existing network
Commuters will be able to change from line 10 to the existing Metrovalencia network at the Xàtiva (line 3) and Bailén (line 5) stations via two underground pedestrian crossings. The one being built at Bailén will make use of the current disused pedestrian crossing in the tunnel of the Gran Via de las Germanies.
The second underground passageway, about 260 m-long, connecting the Alicante and Xàtiva stations, will allow passengers access to lines 3, 5 and 9. This tunnel will have escalators and elevators for people with reduced mobility.
The work includes installation of the entire double track and equipment and the architectural works of the stations, as well as installation of substations, and signalling, communication and security infrastructure.
Construction began in January 2019 and is expected to be completed in November 2021, to be followed by several months of testing. The official opening of the line is scheduled for May 2022.
A cultural hub
The City of Arts and Sciences is one of Spain’s 12 Treasures, which were selected by the public during a campaign by a Spanish TV and radio station in 2007. Designed by architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, the site includes the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia opera house and l'Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest oceanographic aquarium.
The project is part of efforts to increase the availability of public transport in cities, which should encourage people to rely less on their cars, reducing carbon emissions, air and noise pollution to ensure better air quality and a more pleasant city for residents and tourists.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “L10 of the Valencia Metro Network. South Section: C / Alicante-Natzaret Station”, is EUR 50 000 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 20 000 000 through the “Comunidad Valenciana” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Supporting the shift towards a low carbon economy in all sectors”.