The Tenerife Council, via the associated company Metrotenerife, has initiated an international competition project to develop a monorail railway system with an aerial route in the northern part of the Island; specifically, the Northern Train. This call aims to investigate potential solutions for the route and identify proposals that best harmonise with the Tenerife landscape whilst promoting sustainable and effective mobility.
The deadline for submission of applications is set for January 31, with the process expected to unfold over approximately 20 months following the announcement published on January 3. As per the guidelines, the competition is restricted to a maximum of 10 candidates, boasting a prize of 450,000 euros that will be allocated in various financial rewards to the entrants, including several awards based on the jury’s evaluation throughout the process and final payments for the foundational development of the ultimately chosen solution. The appointed jury will be responsible for selecting the superior proposals based on operational, financial, and construction criteria, among others, to subsequently announce the winners. Furthermore, the competition features a concluding phase in which the creation of a feasibility study for the most promising alternative railway system will be awarded.
Mobility
Tenerife faces a significant traffic congestion challenge in several regions, particularly in the transit corridor between the capital, Santa Cruz, and the northern slope, specifically on the TF-5 motorway. This reality serves as the foundation for planning a high-capacity collective transport system tailored to the island’s geography. Consequently, the Tenerife Cabildo, through Metrotenerife, is launching this ideas contest to gather proposals for various railway alternatives to conventional methods, which must respond to a set of criteria and requirements suited to this locale. Thus, the route must proceed along the TF-5 corridor without compromising its existing and future capacity, facilitate connections with forthcoming tram and southern train services, or uphold a considerable transport capacity congruent with the island’s territorial and socioeconomic model, particularly for the northern area.
The Concept
In late June last year, the president of the Tenerife Cabildo, Rosa Dávila, unveiled this international competition for ideas aimed at developing an “innovative” Northern Train in Tenerife. The island’s president indicated that various options were under consideration “including elevated trains, suspended monorails, and other technological advancements”, similar to those currently in operation in Japan or China. Dávila stated that, by the year’s end – although there has been a slight delay – “We will announce an international competition for ideas regarding the Northern Train, laying the groundwork for a state-of-the-art, next-generation railway project”, focusing on “novel solutions that are not only efficient but also sustainable.” She mentioned this during a plenary session of the Council when she kicked off the debate on the state of the Island, specifying that considerations include options like “elevated trains that traverse above the highway.” Some suggestions are grounded in the critical need to “not consume additional territory,” which could be integrated “more seamlessly into the Tenerife landscape, reducing environmental impact and enhancing more fluid and efficient mobility,” she concluded.
The Budget
The island-based company Metrotenerife has set aside three million euros since July 2024 to initiate the international competition for ideas pertaining to the design of the Northern Train. This was disclosed by President Dávila, who, when questioned about the timing of the contest, requested “patience” regarding the development of the plan, although she expressed hope that it would be finalised before the close of the 2024 financial year. It is now anticipated to materialise in January 2025.
The Design
The Island’s Sustainable Mobility Plan, crafted to alleviate traffic congestion over the Island with a target set for 2045, proposes an island-wide railway loop comprising four major regional lines. Besides the trains heading south (Santa Cruz-Adeje), which is the most progressed project currently, and north (Santa Cruz-Los Realejos) – both extending to Fonsalía and Icod de los Vinos, respectively – this perimeter closure integrates a link from the west, connecting Icod and Adeje, along with an underground passage from Güímar to La Orotava. The anticipated cost for all these guided transportation systems totals approximately 5,735 million euros.
The Route
This guided railway system is incorporated within the Special Territorial Infrastructure Management Plan for the Northern Train of Tenerife. It is designed using principles akin to those of the Tren del Sur. The system will follow the same corridor as the TF-5 motorway, achieving high performance (220 km/h) and is initially planned with seven stations, stretching from Santa Cruz de Tenerife to Los Realejos. The railway is projected to attract around six million passengers annually, that is, 10,396 per direction on a workday, with an anticipated capacity of 7.5 million by 2040. However, the Northern Train faces a significant alignment challenge due to the considerable elevation disparity between Santa Cruz and La Laguna, necessitating the incorporation of steep gradients and a connection to the Tren del Sur infrastructure in Añaza to access Santa Cruz. The proposed alternative has a total span of 36 kilometres along the TF-5 corridor, passing through the municipalities of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, Tacoronte, El Sauzal, La Matanza de Acentejo, La Victoria de Acentejo, Santa Úrsula, La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, and Los Realejos. The expenses for the infrastructure implementation are estimated at 1,153,907 euros.
Concerning the Southern train, Dávila reminded that it is “significantly further along” and that the project merely requires updating and its integration into the general interest railway network to secure state and European funding for the initial phase, from San Isidro to Costa Adeje.
