economy and politics

Puente hopes that high speed can be restored to Valencia in less than two weeks

The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, attends to the media, at the headquarters of the Ministry, on October 31, 2024, in Madrid (Spain)


The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, attends to the media, at the headquarters of the Ministry, on October 31, 2024, in Madrid (Spain) – Fernando Sánchez – Europa Press

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MADRID Nov. 1 () –

The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, highlighted this Friday that he hopes that the high-speed line between Madrid and Valencia can be restored “in less than two weeks.”

However, Puente has considered that the “most serious” problem at the railway level is in the Valencian commuter train network, since three of the five lines have disappeared, as he stated in an interview on TVE, reported by Europa Press.

“I hope that in less than two weeks we will be able to get the high-speed line up and running again,” said Puente, in a context marked by the serious damage that DANA has caused in recent days.

Puente explained that yesterday they managed to enter the Torrent tunnel, which is three kilometers long and was “completely flooded.” However, he has expressed that they have found a “reasonably good” situation, so the replacement of the road will be necessary.

On the other hand, the Minister of Transport has stressed that the damage “is more serious” in the Chiva tunnel, which will have to be rebuilt. “The road has been left without a foundation on a route of approximately 1.2 kilometers, so it must be rebuilt and laid,” he explained.

Regarding the Valencia commuter train network, the minister recalled that more than 45 kilometers of the 90 that make up line C-3 have disappeared, so it will take months to repair it. Added to this are another 32 kilometers damaged in C-1 and another 8 kilometers in C-2.

Thus, Puente has confirmed that they will try to establish alternative transportation plans, “which at this moment cannot even be considered because the problem is that the alternative routes, which are the roads, are not operational.” “At this moment, above all we have to continue urging the population is not to move,” he defended.

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