Progress on the South Tenerife Train Project Persists Despite Challenges
Although recent months have seen repeated discussions regarding the advancement of the South Tenerife train project, the infrastructure is still in the drafting phase. This is due to its intertwining with another significant project currently underway on the island: the expansion of Tenerife South Airport. As explained by the island’s president, Rosa Dávila, both projects are still being finalised, as the train’s design did not initially account for the airport terminal expansion.
Coordination Efforts
Dávila noted that the design teams from Aena, the national airport operator, and Territorial Planning and Mobility have been “adjusting certain aspects” of the train’s route in light of the anticipated terminal expansion. This adjustment will be included in the upcoming Airport Regulatory Document, which will feature an underground train station.
“We are striving to ensure that this does not interfere with the territorial plan already approved, thus facilitating a quicker environmental impact assessment for the construction project,” Dávila stated. The focus is on ensuring that the new expansion accommodates a “cavern” intended for the creation of a station at the airport.
Additionally, Dávila explained that Aena has also tendered the construction of a parking facility, which did not consider the territorial plan that the South train would follow. “This necessitates a minor modification, which we are working to ensure is not substantial, so that it does not alter the territorial plan.”
Anticipated Tender in 2028
The island institution’s forecast suggests that the construction of the South train could be tendered in 2028. Recently, the Spanish government signed a commitment to finance three railway projects being promoted in the Canary Islands: the South and North trains in Tenerife and the Gran Canaria train.
For the South train, only the section connecting San Isidro and Costa Adeje is currently planned, which will feature four stations along a 30-kilometre stretch.
