Copyright euroweeklynews
TRAINS in Almeria are reportedly seeing more passengers than ever before: According to the 2024 Andalusian Statistical Yearbook, 272,207 passengers boarded the train in the province last year, a figure that is eight times higher than just five years ago in 2020, and double what it was in 2022. The statistics represent record numbers for the province, and a bright future ahead for its transport and connections between small towns and larger hubs. Almeria passenger numbers soar 813 per cent since 2020 As a matter of fact, the rail transport growth in Almeria has been the most dramatic in the whole of Andalucia. While places like Malaga and Sevilla see more than 10 million passengers, and Almeria’s figure remains modest in comparison at more than 272,000, Almeria’s dramatic increase of passengers, at 813 per cent since the pandemic, wipes the floor with all other regions in Andalucia. The many contributing factors to Almeria’s growth However, Almeria’s impressive spike in passengers is no surprise. Since the year 2022, Spanish railway operator RENFE has maintained free season tickets for its ‘medium-distance’ services, therefore boosting trips between Almeria and Granada, particularly among students and workers. The boost in tourism the province has experienced has also played a part, with more than 1.5 million passengers staying in the province in 2024, according to the National Institute of Statistics. The surge in passengers can also be attributed to the marked increase in train frequencies: currently, four daily trains run in each direction between Almeria and Granada, doubling the frequency of 2021. Urban underground works causing detours and the gradual decrease in traffic has also played a major role. Almeria’s paradox: the most passengers with the worst connections Despite the historic record of passengers, Almeria has work to be done on its train network: the train line to Granada remains unelectrified, as the only line in the region without overhead power lines, and the rail traffic is still blocked in the capital of Almeria, due to work being carried out on the Murcia – Almeria high-speed train. Almeria’s trains run on diesel engines and there is only a single track, resulting in slow journeys and fewer frequencies compared to other regions. Additionally, the province does not have a commuter rail network, or direct connections to other hubs Murcia and Jaen. In this way, Almeria is somewhat of a paradox; showing the highest spike in rail passengers while having the most limited rail system in the whole of Andalucia. Works being carried out to rectify connection shortcomings Almeria’s lacking infrastructure does not escape the notice of transport authorities, of course: the contract for a complete renovation of the Granada line was awarded by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, for €17.2 million. Additionally, other works are being carried out, including on the AVE high-speed train in Almeria, set to be completed between 2026 and 2027, as well as the Adif Alta Velocidad train, connecting Lorca with Almeria. With Almeria busier than ever, these changes are welcomed by the bustling passengers and the province will surely only grow in connections as works are underway to make sure residents’ and visitors’ travel needs are met and exceeded. Read more news from Almeria here.
