Madrid's iconic Atocha station complex, the hub of Spain's extensive rail network, is getting a third station, to be built underneath the existing buildings. The new 4-track, 2-platform station will be for Spain's expanding high-speed train network.
Contracts were let last week for the nearly half-billion Euro project, which will connect to the cross-city tunnel opened in 2022 to connect Atocha with the city's other main station, Chamartin.
Spain's (and Portugal's) rail systems were built to a much wider gauge than the standard used elsewhere in Europe and North America, but the high-speed network was built to European standard gauge to allow connection with the rest of Europe. Until the opening of the new tunnel, built to standard gauge, high-speed trains passing through Madrid between Chamartin in the North and Atocha in the center had to pause for their wheels to be regauged.
With the tunnel open, moving the high-speed lines to a new station within the complex is expected to open up more capacity as rail traffic grows. The original Atocha station now serves as a connector between Puerta de Atocha which serves long-distance trains and Atocha de Cercanias which serves commuter and regional lines.
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