The mayors of the towns of Xàtiva (Valencia) and Alcoi (Alicante) have expressed their satisfaction with the «historic investment» in the railway line between both municipalities, which will «improve connectivity, reduce travel times, and optimize service reliability.»
Municipal authorities have reacted after the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility announced that it will begin on-site works at the end of March for the comprehensive renovation of the 64 km Xàtiva-Alcoi Medium Distance line, between the provinces of Valencia and Alicante, with a total investment of 160 million euros (including VAT), including all contracts related to these works, such as the execution of works starting this month, drafting of projects, supply of materials and technical assistance, or works to modernize systems.
The works are expected to continue until the end of 2026, during which an alternative transportation plan has been designed to ensure mobility between Xàtiva and Alcoi with over 11,500 scheduled bus services.
Xàtiva Mayor, Roger Cerdà, stated: «We are undoubtedly facing a historic investment in this line, the Xàtiva-Alcoi line. We are talking about an investment of over 84 million euros, which has been a long-awaited investment. This represents, for the first time, a comprehensive remodeling, a complete modernization of the entire line, and an absolute increase in safety, as well as a reduction in travel time on this railway line.»
«After this historic investment,» he continued, «it will be possible to consider both the electrification of the line and the increase in frequency and number of daily trips made on it.»
Cerdà added that for the capital of La Costera, this is «great news, as by the end of 2026, when these works are completed, the arrival of the AVE train to the city of Xàtiva with a stop in our municipality is also planned.»
«All this will achieve nothing but reaffirm that our city is the capital of high-speed rail in the central Valencian regions. This is an absolutely strategic fact for the socio-economic development of our city in the near future,» he asserted.
On the other hand, Alcoi Mayor, Toni Francés, emphasized the importance of this action for the structuring of the central regions: «It will improve communication in the regions surrounding Alcoi and the connection to Xàtiva, which will be an AVE station and a very important communication hub for l’Alcoià and El Comtat.»
«MANY YEARS OF DEMANDS»
«We will have the train that the people of Alcoi and all the inhabitants of the region deserve. There have been many years of demands from civil society, from many mayors, and I want to highlight the commitment of the current Government of Spain, led by Pedro Sánchez, who has listened to and addressed the demands of the central regions for better mobility that will renovate the entire railway line,» he emphasized.
Francés added that this investment «will not only improve rail connectivity, but also boost the economic and social development of the area»: «A modern and efficient rail transport is essential to promote the economic growth of our regions. This renovation will allow our citizens to have better mobility options for work, study, and enjoying a better quality of life. It will also be an opportunity to promote tourism and facilitate the connection with other major cities in the Valencian Community and Spain. This action will be a fundamental boost for mobility and development in the central regions,» he stated.
To expedite the execution and minimize inconvenience, it has been decided to interrupt rail traffic along the entire line until the end of 2026, which will allow concentrating the works and reducing deadlines. The comprehensive renovation of the infrastructure will ensure a more efficient, reliable, and sustainable rail service, contributing to improving mobility in the inland regions of the Valencian Community, as stated by municipal sources.
During the construction period, Renfe has arranged an alternative transportation plan with 126 weekly bus services between Xàtiva and Alcoi, while the section between Valencia Nord and Xàtiva will continue to be served by train. This measure ensures the connectivity of the affected municipalities and maintains the offering of Medium Distance services.
