Massive Infrastructure Upgrade for The Costa Blanca Proposed

Alicante’s €1.1 Billion Railway Transformation Proposal: Connecting the Costa Blanca’s Future

A powerful alliance of business leaders in Alicante has unveiled an ambitious €1.1 billion railway connectivity proposal that could revolutionize transport across the Costa Blanca. The plan, driven by the Instituto de Estudios Económicos de la Provincia de Alicante (INECA), the Chamber of Commerce, CEV, and the hotel association HOSBEC, aims to solve long-standing mobility issues, create sustainable alternatives to car travel, and position Alicante as a model of integrated, future-proof infrastructure.

At the heart of the proposal is a plan to connect key points across the province, and improve links between Alicante, Elche, Torrevieja, Orihuela, Benidorm, and the Alicante-Elche Airport. The most anticipated development is a new TRAM line that would connect Orihuela with Torrevieja, extend North towards Santa Pola, and South towards Pilar de la Horadada and Orihuela Costa. This would finally give the southern Costa Blanca access to rail transport and solve a long-standing gap in public transport.

The plan also proposes direct rail access to Alicante-Elche Airport by leveraging the Torrellano variant of the Mediterranean Corridor (an EU-backed transport initiative to connect southern Spain to Central Europe via high-speed rail). Currently, Alicante airport is one of the busiest in Spain without a rail link. This proposed integration into the commuter and high-speed network would significantly improve convenience for tourists and residents alike, and reduce road traffic and congestion around the airport.

The proposal also includes upgrades to the Alicante–Elche–Murcia commuter rail line, with new track duplications and tunnels designed to reduce travel intervals to 10 minutes between Alicante and Elche. A new high-speed AVE station in Benidorm is also planned, with underground tracks and a multimodal hub near the current TRAM and bus station. It could serve up to 4 million passengers annually, and place Benidorm among Spain’s top AVE destinations.

Furthermore, the University of Alicante could become the first university campus in Spain with an AVE stop. The current stop into Alicante-Norte station would be improved to include a TRAM branch link to the city’s intermodal hub.

One of the proposal’s most innovative ideas is the removal of the coastal railway through San Gabriel – a coastal suburb on the outskirts of Alicante city. This would enable the development of a green corridor, that would reconnect neighbourhoods with the sea, and transform urban space into recreational and ecological areas. The plan not only enhances transport but also boosts urban cohesion and sustainability, which is aligned with EU climate and mobility goals.

Positive Indicators and EU Alignment
The initiative is well-positioned to seek EU funding, particularly from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Next Generation EU recovery programs. It aligns with European priorities for sustainable transport, reduced emissions, and smart regional development.

Possible Challenges
Despite broad local support, the proposal has not yet been approved by the Spanish government. Competing national infrastructure priorities and the complexity of coordinating across municipalities could slow progress. However, phased implementation that would begin with high-impact projects like the airport link or Benidorm AVE station could improve its chances.