On September 13 last year, the Railway Infrastructure Manager (ADIF) decided to establish Chamartín’s Madrid terminus as the reference station for the AVE line with Alicante. A measure that was strongly contested from the Alicante province, especially from business sectors. Condemns 15-minute increase in travel time. Public institutions, led by the Provincial Council and the City Council, also cried out over a decision they understood to be contrary to the competitiveness of this region.
Added to these reactions A study from the University of Alicante (UA)It also concluded that the change was detrimental to travelers traveling to the nation’s capital primarily for business reasons.
It was precisely this report that Senator Agustín Almodóbar used to ask the Government whether it planned to reclaim Atocha as a terminal station and also whether it planned an increase in frequencies. One thing the manager was blunt about in his response, emphasizing: As of today, there are no plans to increase Atocha’s navigation and currently provides two daily sailings per direction..
The Government also recalls that the decision to place Chamartín as a reference station for this line was extended on 22 January of the same year to also cover the AVE line with València, both for RENFE and for the different railway companies currently operating.