December 10
International Association Afcopma welcomes the ‘Tren de la Costa’ but it must follow the route that creates the least environmental damage.
The organisation ’Afcopma’ was founded by a group of citizens from the Marina Alta district who are extremely worried about the revised train route ‘Tren de la Costa’ presented by the Ministry of Development (Ministerio de Formento) on the 8th of July, 2016. Instead of running parallel to the AP7 as originally planned, this new route would take the coastal train from Denia through La Xara, La Sella, La Sella Golf, Montgó Natural Park and Jesus Pobre, and through to Gata destroying much natural habitat in its wake, as well as agricultural land. Afcopma is fighting this route, proposing instead the original plan which directly connected our two major towns of Valencia and Alicante with a high speed ‘Tren de la Costa’.
Co-President of Afcopma Peter Pockrandt explains ‘We began as a small group of people who, when apprised of the new route, were extremely worried about the impact it would have on the natural environment, particularly the protected areas such as the Montgó. We formed an official Association and have now held meetings throughout the proposed affected areas where we have gained a huge amount of support.
‘It seems that the proposal is now to terminate the route from Valencia at Denia, then for passengers to travel by the tram (trenet) to a new interchange to be built at Punta Benimaquia. This proposal has ignored or forgotten the thousands of inhabitants who would have to travel to Denia to board the train north to Valencia. The CV735 would become a complete bottleneck as cars travel to access the station – to be sited at La Pedrera – and where could they park in a town which is already at bursting point? Furthermore, there would then be three rail lines from La Pedrera to Gata– the trenet, and the two new high speed lines – a major impact on the natural environment.
‘We continue to campaign for the original ‘Tren de la Costa’, a high speed service connecting Valencia and Alicante with a purpose-built interchange at Ondara which will serve the whole of the Marina Alta’.
Pockrandt made some further points to clarify what is a seemingly confused issue:
• The Tren de la Costa bears no relation to the Mediterranean Corridor line,
• The Tren de la Costa has nothing to do with the Tren de Cercanias C-1 which links Gandia with Valencia, although it is based on its current layout
• Neither does it have anything to do with the TRAM which links Denia with Alicante, although it could be complementary.
Afcopma believes the only viable route for the much-needed rail link between our two major cities is along the AP7 where its impact on the environment and protected areas will be greatly reduced. In addition, with a purpose-built interchange at Ondara, the motorway interchange at junction 62, the station can be easily reached by the whole of the Marina Alta via the N332 or the AP7. There is ample space for car parking and for buses to serve the immediate district.
For more information, visit www.trendelacostasi.com or
call Peter Pockrandt on 0034 657 679 377
