By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Accept
The Spanish EyeThe Spanish EyeThe Spanish Eye
Notification Show More
  • Home
  • News
  • Travel
  • Events
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Property
  • Opinion
  • About Us
  • Contact
Reading: Costa del Sol train takes one step closer to becoming a reality – but can we get our hopes up?
Share
The Spanish EyeThe Spanish Eye
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Property
  • Opinion
  • About Us
  • Contact
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
The Spanish Eye > Costa del Sol > Costa del Sol train takes one step closer to becoming a reality – but can we get our hopes up?
Costa del SolNewsTravel

Costa del Sol train takes one step closer to becoming a reality – but can we get our hopes up?

Currently, the C1 line connects Malaga city, the airport, and popular towns like Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

Last updated: May 5, 2025 5:09 pm
Laurence Dollimore
Published: May 5, 2025
Share
SHARE

The long-talked-about railway project for the Costa del Sol may have just taken another small shuffle forward – emphasis on small.

After a month-and-a-half of government deliberations, the Ministry of Transport has signed off on a contract to investigate whether connecting Algeciras to Nerja by train is feasible and economically worth it.

The almost €1million feasibility study has been handed to a joint venture led by WSP Spain APIA, who will have 18 months to produce a report weighing up the economic and social benefits of the proposed route.

The study, it is hoped, will lay the groundwork for an ambitious rail corridor designed to relieve the region’s oversaturated roads and underwhelming public transport system.

It will look at how to better use the existing Malaga–Fuengirola C1 commuter line and assess whether it’s worth extending it west to Marbella, Estepona and Algeciras, or eastward to Nerja.

Subscription Options

Help keep The Spanish Eye free to read

The Spanish Eye is the ONLY quality English news site in Spain that is completely free to read. We believe quality journalism should be available to anyone and everyone, and hope to keep it that way for as long as possible. Our exclusive stories are constantly followed up by international outlets, making us a respected and agenda-setting news source. To be able to carry out such work, we rely on the support of our tens of thousands of loyal readers.

Please donate what you can

Subscribe

Please donate what you can



Amount: €250

Continue

Currently, the C1 line connects Malaga city, the airport, and popular towns like Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

However, it is bursting at the seams, operating at an unsustainable 117% capacity during the peak summer months.

The report will include a demand forecast, plus a deep dive into financial and socioeconomic feasibility.

But should expats and tourists be getting their hopes up? While things are moving in the right direction, the feasibility will take time and even if it is positive, it will likely be years before shovels hit the ground.

Francisco Salado, President of Malaga’s Provincial Council, isn’t thrilled about the timeline, and is pushing for a faster route.

He wants to skip the feasibility stage and jump straight to the more decisive ‘information study’, which he says could shave two years off the process.

Bigwigs in Madrid are pushing back however, citing Article 5.3 of the Railway Sector Law – which critics say was sidestepped for other projects, including for the €3.1billion bypass in Ourense, Galicia.

- Advertisement -

That project skipped the feasibility process in an effort to fast-track the project, which had been delayed for over a decade.

But the Costa del Sol train has been in demand for far longer, with calls for an extension to the C1 and other train lines dating back 30 years.

‘Pedro Sanchez will build the train’

Malaga minister Javier Salas is remaining positive and insists the wheels are turning, slowly, but surely.

He told press today: ‘Pedro Sanchez’s Government will build the Costa del Sol train.

‘For the first time since it was created, the C1 line will be extended.’

- Advertisement -

While there are reasons to be optimistic, there have been feasibility studies in the past which have led to nowhere.

These included extending the train line to Marbella, which remains one of the largest towns in Europe without a train station.

Manhunt after brutal stabbing in Mijas leaves victim with screwdriver stuck in shoulder
‘Worrying’ figures reveal Brits are ditching major Spanish holiday island – just hours before ‘anti-tourism’ rally
Watch: Scandal as ‘narco tunnel’ between Spain and Morocco reveals drugs were trafficked through military unit’s home
Watch: British gangsters who freed prisoner at gunpoint on busy street in Spain are arrested
Storms return to Spain this week: These are at the at risk areas – including the Costa del Sol
TAGGED:costa del sol trainspain news

Sign Up For Newsletters

Be kept up to date! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Share This Article
Facebook Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Follow

Find us on Social Media
FacebookLike
XFollow
YoutubeSubscribe
Popular News
ExclusiveNews

Spain’s power gradually returns after national outage sparks travel chaos and panic buying

Laurence Dollimore
April 29, 2025
Two bodies are found inside a tourist flat in Tenerife after neighbours reported foul smell
Fury as tourist cafe in Spain introduces ‘table hogger’ surcharge: Locals blame ‘outsiders’
Tragedy in Torrevieja: Tourist in his 70s drowns off popular tourist beach
British marine and former Beckham bodyguard dies in Spain: Tributes pour in for ‘cherished hero’ who served in Afghanistan

Categories

  • News
  • Costa del Sol
  • Crime
  • Costa Blanca
  • Andalucia
  • weather
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Canaries
  • Life in Spain

The Spanish Eye

Your first look at what’s happening in Spain - All the latest news, opinion and analysis
Quick Link
  • Home
  • News
  • Register for Free access
  • Contact
Top Categories
  • News
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Property

Get News straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Please wait…

Thank you for signing up!

© The Spanish Eye 2024 - All rights reserved | Privacy Policy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

Not a member? Sign Up