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Date Published: 01/07/2024

Andalucia steams ahead with plans for new Costa del Sol train

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As well as the Malaga coastal train, plans are also afoot to scrap motorway tolls

Andalucia steams ahead with plans for new Costa del Sol train

It’s a frustrating debate that’s been going back and forth for months, but the Junta de Andalucía is finally putting the finishing touches on its Territorial Planning Plan (POT) which includes, among other things, the construction of a Western Costa del Sol coastal train.

The government is also discussing the scrapping of tolls on the AP-7 and the construction of a public transport only lane on the A-7, so that a "metropolitan corridor" is generated around the coast. The timeline is still a little hazy, but sources have indicated that work could resume within a year.

The POT document essentially establishes a strategy for managing territory in several key municipalities, including Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Estepona, Casares and more. While the Junta de Andalucía isn't responsible for constructing the coastal train itself, they are laying the groundwork by defining the key connection points, leaving the detailed layout to the central government.

José Andrés Moreno, General Director of Territorial Planning and Urban Planning, explained that the Andalucian Government is working closely with the municipalities involved to determine the best route for the long-awaited train.

Those pushing for the project have emphasised the huge benefits of a coastal railway, not to mention the easing of traffic jams that the changes to the AP-7 and A-7 would result in.

Much to the relief of residents and tourists alike, the minister stressed that the intention is for the railway, which now reaches Fuengirola, to be extended "not only to Marbella, but also to Estepona, Manilva and Algeciras".

This document, Minister of Public Works, Rocío Díaz added, offers alternatives to a territory that lacks connections between urbanisations and has a toll motorway (AP-7) that is little used, while there is no alternative public transport network to the bus.

While everyone involved seems to have eventually reached a consensus about the train, the motorway tolls are a bit of a sticking point. The local Andalusian government wants the AP-7 liberalised and the charges scrapped so that motorists would make better use of this road, but the central Spanish government has been baulking at the amount of money this would cost them.

The proposed coastal train is just one part of the POT's vision and as the final touches are put on the plan, the Junta de Andalucía has stressed its commitment to improving transport options in the Costa del Sol. However, it's a complex matter, and the responsibility for giving the plan the go-ahead still lies with the Spanish government.

In other news: Elderly British pensioner reported missing on the Costa del Sol

Image: Archive

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