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Date Published: 04/10/2022

Cartagena locals voice strong opposition to new AVE train line

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The groups believe the new train tracks will unfairly divide several Cartagena localities

Cartagena locals voice strong opposition to new AVE train line

Last month, Adif Alta Velocidad confirmed its plan to run a section of the long-awaited AVE line between Torre Pacheco and Cartagena, a 10-kilometre stretch which has the residents of seven different locales up in arms. In all, seven neighbourhood associations have raised objections and an official complaint was submitted to the regional authorities on September 30.

The Pro Tren CT Platform, which represents the neighbourhood groups of the Estación Sector, Torreciega, San Ginés, Alumbres, Barrio Peral, Los Mateos and Virgen de la Caridad, has instead suggested that the AVE line be rerouted through the Masdeu Corridor, also called Alternative 5, which would ultimately be “cheaper” and would “not affect population centres as directly.”

The platform maintains that Adif’s proposed route through an urban area will end up costing around 95 million euros more than their option, since the project will involve tunnelling at least 700 metres in the first section and as much as 3,300 metres in the second. The Masdeu Corridor alternative would be entirely above ground.

Furthermore, Pro Tren has pointed out that it will be virtually impossible to build the first 470 metres of the track underground, as the area is located on “mud contaminated with acid,” a claim backed up by a study carried out by Ecros and validated by the Nuclear Safety Council.

The main objection of the locals, of course, is that the proposed train line will literally draw a dividing line between the districts on either side, thoroughly “isolating the population of Torreciega from the rest of the city and dividing the neighbourhoods of Virgen de la Caridad, a part of San Ginés and a part of the Estación Sector and, in the future, put obstacles to the urban development of Barrio Peral”.

Alternative 5 proposes that the rail line runs parallel to the La Unión highway, which would not divide any areas and avoid the “great social prejudice” currently being considered.

Pro Tren CT has demanded an urgent study of this option. If the groups involved aren’t satisfied, they have vowed to take to the streets in mass protest, a move which could delay the December 2026 completion deadline and end up threatening the receipt of European funds.

Image: Pixabay

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