Alicante Transport

The TRAM reaches the underground city ofAlicante. This tunnel is a total of 4.2 km and has six stations—MARQ, Mercado, Luceros Intermodal, Gran Via, and Avenida de Orihuela. It passes through this tunnel to most urban and suburban areas.

Currently, this tunnel is the only operational section of MARQ-Mercado, which is 730 m long. By the end of 2008, the Luceros service station should be available, and in 2011 the tunnel should be built in its entirety.

Currently, it works in Line 2 (L2), which goes from San Vicente del Rapeig throughBabel College and the center of Orihuela. It is similar to the loop of Line 4 (L4).

Shortly after the construction of the tunnel has been completed, they will start working on another 1.4 km between stations Sangueta and La Isleta. This tunnel has a budget of $34 million, and its function will be splitting the route in a complicated and uncertain stretch.

Places such as San Juan de Alicante and Muchamiel are awaiting their turn to receive the much needed tram.

The network also serves the entire northern coast of the province, giving a service to local towns such as Benidorm, Altea, and Denia, which is scheduled to set up branches and suburban transport.

Lines currently in service:

L1—Benidorm Central Market Services (nearby with train-tram)

L3—Lanuza Market Central-Campello/Venta Service (Metropolitan)

L4—Puerta del Mar Avenue of Nations (Metropolitan service)

L9—Benidorm Denia (suburban train service number 2500)

Buses

The city has an extensive network of buses and about 40 metropolitan lines. These buses have integrated all their fees and travel with the TRAM through Mobilis contactless card that can be used indiscriminately for transportation within the metropolitan area ofAlicante.

Buses are still the most popular means of public transport used byAlicante because of their large coverage of the urban territory.

Alicante International Airport

The airport is located 11 km from the city, in the hamlet of El Altet, within themunicipality ofElche. This is an international airport, which ranks sixth in number of passengers, with a total of more than nine million during 2007.

TRAM—Metropolitano de Alicante

Main Article: TRAM Metropolitano de Alicante

The services combine the TRAM surface light-rail (in both area and underground) in the urban core and suburban services (both diesel trains with speeds up to 110 km/h) to nearby towns in the metropolitan area and more distant.

During the 2008 enlargement, the airport was tackled with a new, modern terminal that provides the current airport capacity of more than 20 million travelers. Similarly, it is also hoped that both the TRAM and the Renfe Cercanias Line C-1-Operadora will connect to the airport with the future station ofCentral Alicante.

Suburban

Currently, there are three lines in operation that connect the city with its surroundings and nearby towns. These suburban lines are operated by two different operators. One-Renfe Operator, public corporation under the Ministry of Development ofSpain, which offers users local trains in most major Spanish cities.

The other is FGV (Ferrocarriles de la Generalitat Valenciana), through which is trademarked in Alicante (TRAM) and connects the city with the heart of Benidorm through other coastal towns.

Alicante-Denia (Operated by FGV and transhipped in Benidorm)

Alicante-Murcia (line C-1-Operadora Renfe)

Alicante-Universidad/San Vicente del Raspeig (line C-3 Renfe-Operator)

High-Speed Rail

Euro Train: Alicante-Valencia-Barcelona.

AVE: Predictably, the AVE will reachAlicante in 2012. Currently, works are being blocked due to misunderstanding of the central and regional.