Óscar Puente, Spanish Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, announced the construction of a third terminus specifically for high-speed rolling stock in the Madrid region, in the municipality of Parla.
The details emerged during an official briefing, which also included news of upgrades to the Madrid–Barcelona High-Speed Line (LAV) to accommodate operating speeds of up to 350 km/h.
The principal function of this new station, according to the Minister, will be to serve as a through stop for services linking Andalusia and Catalonia, allowing these flows to avoid entering urban Madrid’s central hubs, Atocha and Chamartín.
The new station could provide additional resilience, offering an alternative railhead should incidents impact the main stations.
Puente defended Parla’s selection for the new terminal, citing its demographic weight and logistical advantages.
Parla boasts a resident population of 1.26 million, and within a travel catchment of up to 15 minutes, the figure rises to 4.7 million inhabitants.
Additionally, the site for the new station is described as clear land, indicating suitability for straightforward and cost-effective construction, though the Minister has yet to disclose a projected budget.
In parallel, Renfe is investigating the establishment of a new maintenance depot for PSO passenger trains, with the potential for future high-speed facilities on the same site.