The Valencian Government has announced the incorporation of six new trams into Alicante's TRAM service, set to begin operation before the year's end. This acquisition is part of a broader investment exceeding 140 million euros, aimed at renewing and expanding the tram fleet for both Alicante and Metrovalencia. The President of the Generalitat, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, highlighted the Council's commitment to quality public transport with this initiative, noting that the new vehicles are arriving while other networks are receiving used trains.
The new units, manufactured by Stadler at its Albuixech plant, are 100% accessible vehicles designed to be more modern, sustainable, and comfortable, with a particular focus on individuals with reduced mobility. Each tram features seven carriages, offering around a hundred more seats than previous models, representing a 44% increase in capacity and necessitating adaptations to some network stops.
During a visit to the TRAM de Alicante workshops in El Campello, where the Tramlink series 4500 units are undergoing testing and homologation, Pérez Llorca confirmed that the first Alicante unit will enter service before 2027. The remaining trams will be gradually introduced throughout the first quarter of 2027, with an additional 16 trams allocated to Metrovalencia.
To accommodate the new, longer trams, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) will undertake platform extension works at the Porta del Mar stop. These projects, commencing by year-end with an investment exceeding 3 million euros, include the construction of a new 75-meter central platform and the renovation of the surrounding railway infrastructure.
The Minister of Environment, Infrastructure, Territory, and Recovery, Vicente Martínez Mus, explained that the need for these works stems from the length difference between the seven-carriage new trams and the current five-carriage models. The construction project is complete, and work is expected to begin within the next couple of months.
These initiatives are part of FGV's 2026-2030 Investment Plan, which allocates approximately 840 million euros to modernize and expand the Metrovalencia and TRAM de Alicante networks. The goal is to address historical deficits and enhance service capacity, frequency, and quality.
In observance of Car-Free Day on September 22nd, all services of Metrovalencia, TRAM de Alicante, TRAM de Castellón, and Metrobús will be free of charge. Additionally, FGV will display a new tram unit alongside older models at Alicante's Ciclovía Litoral to showcase the evolution of these vehicles.
