The Valencian Community in Spain is still dealing with the aftermath of the wave of extreme weather that hit in October. However, things have been slowly returning to normal and by next week a significant amount of traffic will be allowed to restart. The Valencia-Madrid direct connection will be re-activated on Monday 16 December.
Starting from next week, state-owned rail freight operator will resume the circulation of 53 weekly trains. “These are intermodal, steel and automotive trains with origin and destination in the Port of Valencia, Sagunto and Madrid”, the Spanish Ministry of Transport stated. Currently, due to the disaster caused by the so-called DANA, trains have to be diverted through Tarragona, a deviation which adds 430 kilometres to the itinerary. The reopening of the Valencia-Madrid line should also mean the reopening of the rolling highway service between the two cities.
“The restoration of the railway line between Valencia and Xativa allows freight trains to return to their usual, more direct route, shortening journey times and gaining efficiency”, the Ministry added. Under normal circumstances, 28 freight trains run every day on this route. Some sections of the railway network around Valencia, however, are still being fixed, such as the roughly 73 kilometres stretch between Aldaia and Utiel, west of Valencia, which was severely damaged by DANA.
