Plans for Tenerife's long-awaited southern railway have taken another step forward, with island officials confirming that the train will not run underground as it passes Tenerife South Airport.
The announcement came after the Cabildo revealed that it has finalised the proposed station and route through the airport as part of the wider expansion and redevelopment plans being carried out by airport operator AENA.
A formal agreement between the Cabildo and AENA is expected to be signed shortly, setting out not only the railway alignment at Tenerife South Airport but also future plans to extend the tram network to Tenerife North Airport.
Speaking after the latest meeting of the island's governing council, Cabildo President Rosa Dávila said the railway route has now been integrated into AENA's airport expansion project. Instead of passing beneath the airport, the line will remain at ground level, ruling out the previously discussed underground option.
The proposed South Train project, which would connect Santa Cruz with Adeje, has already been fully drafted and carries an estimated price tag of €2.4 billion. The scheme is seen as one of Tenerife's biggest infrastructure projects, aimed at reducing congestion on the island's increasingly busy road network.
A further meeting involving representatives from Spain's Ministry of Transport, the Cabildo's Roads and Mobility departments, and the Canary Islands Government will take place on Friday to monitor progress on Tenerife's railway developments.
Sustainable Transport for Teide
The Cabildo has also appointed Luis Gutiérrez Valido as Technical Director of the Sustainable Mobility Programme for Teide National Park.
He will oversee plans to improve transport within the park, including traffic management, parking controls, reservation systems, public transport services and new access regulations designed to reduce the number of private vehicles visiting one of Tenerife's most popular attractions.
The long-term strategy includes introducing controlled access points, advance parking reservations, shuttle buses and internal circular transport services to help protect the park while improving the visitor experience.
