- The extension of the Maritime circuit will allow the frequency in the Cabanyal-Canyamelar section to go from 20 minutes to 7 and a half minutes.
- Train frequency between L’Eliana and Paterna will go from 30 to 12 minutes and, between Torrent and Paterna, waiting times will be reduced by 18 minut
The Minister for Territorial Policy, Public Works and Mobility, Arcadi España, has presented the Metrovalencia Network Frequency Improvement Plan for the coming years, which will involve an investment of 235 million euros.
Arcadi España explained that “this improvement programme will reduce waiting times on all sections of the network, responding to the long-standing demands of Metrovalencia users”.
In turn, the Minister explained that, with these proceedings, “transport capacity will be increased, and a fundamental step will be taken to consolidate the service offered by Metrovalencia as a real alternative to the use of private vehicles”.
The new plan was presented this morning online, via Twitch, to the 37 municipalities and cities through which the metro and tram network runs in Valencia and to the users who were able to connect live. In total, during the broadcast, 100 people were able to exchange questions with the Minister and members of the management team of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV). The presentation was attended by the managing director of FGV, Anaïs Menguzzato.
Planned investment
In order to make this improvement of the current transport service of the metro and tram network possible, more than 235 million euros will be allocated to new technical proceedings and the incorporation of new trams.
Of the aforementioned amount, more than 90 million euros will be invested in the metro lines to widen the single-track sections; increase the sidetracks and crossing points on different surface sections; eliminate level crossings; and modernise interlockings and train protection systems.
The investment in the tram network amounts to more than 127 million euros and includes the acquisition of new units; the extension of the tram circuit in the area of El Cabanyal-Canyamelar; the extension of the current platforms; the installation of new sidetracks and interlockings; and the modernisation of the tram protection and control systems.
“The first proceedings, which are already in the planning and project drafting process, will begin in 2022, so that in 2023 Metrovalencia users will be able to see the first improvements,” explained the Minister.
The above-mentioned set of proceedings will make it possible to considerably increase the frequency of trains, to varying degrees, on the entire surface network, so that, logically, waiting times on the underground section of Metrovalencia will also be considerably reduced.
On some sections, such as L’Eliana-Empalme, a significant increase in running times will be achieved by setting a new frequency of 12 minutes. The current frequency in this area was 30 minutes from Paterna to L’Eliana and 15 minutes from Empalme to Paterna. Likewise, on the section between Torrent and Picassent, waiting times will be reduced by 18 minutes, thus providing a better service to residents and workers in the area.
It should be remembered that in recent years Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana has improved train services and frequency in the months of July and on working days of the weeks over the Christmas holidays. In addition, the overnight service, interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020, has been brought back into service.
New tram circuit
One of the main proceedings planned in the tram network to make this new frequency plan possible is the extension of the circuit in the Maritime area of Metrovalencia’s Lines 4 and 6, in order to improve the service of this means of transport in the city of Valencia.
In this way, the route of the trams through the maritime area would be modified to improve the frequency in the connection between the Orriols, Malvarrosa and El Cabanyal/Canyamelar districts and the metro line, starting from Marítim-Serrería station. With this improvement, the expected average frequency will be approximately 7.5 minutes, compared to the current 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the point of departure and the destination.
