The Almería Intermodal Station is a station that serves both railways and buses in the Spanish city of Almería. It has been in service since 2005 and replaces the old railway station, which had been inaugurated in 1893. From 2018 to 2021, railway services were inactive due to the works being carried out for the construction of the high-speed line that will link Almería with Madrid and the Mediterranean Corridor through Murcia. As of July 28, 2021, its rail services returned to normal. Since March 5, 2024, there have been no railway services due to underground works until 2026.[1].
Railway situation
The station is located at kilometer point 250,618 of the Linares Baeza-Almería Iberian gauge railway line.[2].
History
The original seasons
The land was acquired in 1880 and the old railway station began to be built for the Compañía de los Caminos de Hierro del Sur de España in 1890 and was completed in 1893. Although its inauguration took place two years later, on July 23, 1895, with the Guadix-Almería line. It is a perfect example of iron and glass architecture. Its interior is dominated by a clock manufactured by Paul Garnier.[3] The objective of the line was to transport minerals from Sierra Morena to the port of Almería, although it was also used for other merchandise and even passenger transportation.
During the Civil War, in a bombing by the Nazis in 1937 in support of Franco, the front stained glass window, the aforementioned clock and the iron balustrade that crowned the construction were destroyed, not by direct hits, but by projectiles that fell on the adjacent tracks. replaced by another one more similar to the original.[5] Around May 30, 1984, a pedestrian bridge was built over the track beach to shorten the journey between the station and the coastal neighborhoods, which was popularly known as the red bridge.[6] Between 1988 and 1991, during the execution of the First Station Modernization Plan, the Almería facilities were restored.[7] During the course of said reform The entrance to two air raid shelters built during the war was discovered,[8] and an underground space with three rooms, but the relationship between both findings is not certain.
Intermodal architecture
Introduction
The Almería Intermodal Station is a station that serves both railways and buses in the Spanish city of Almería. It has been in service since 2005 and replaces the old railway station, which had been inaugurated in 1893. From 2018 to 2021, railway services were inactive due to the works being carried out for the construction of the high-speed line that will link Almería with Madrid and the Mediterranean Corridor through Murcia. As of July 28, 2021, its rail services returned to normal. Since March 5, 2024, there have been no railway services due to underground works until 2026.[1].
Railway situation
The station is located at kilometer point 250,618 of the Linares Baeza-Almería Iberian gauge railway line.[2].
History
The original seasons
The land was acquired in 1880 and the old railway station began to be built for the Compañía de los Caminos de Hierro del Sur de España in 1890 and was completed in 1893. Although its inauguration took place two years later, on July 23, 1895, with the Guadix-Almería line. It is a perfect example of iron and glass architecture. Its interior is dominated by a clock manufactured by Paul Garnier.[3] The objective of the line was to transport minerals from Sierra Morena to the port of Almería, although it was also used for other merchandise and even passenger transportation.
During the Civil War, in a bombing by the Nazis in 1937 in support of Franco, the front stained glass window, the aforementioned clock and the iron balustrade that crowned the construction were destroyed, not by direct hits, but by projectiles that fell on the adjacent tracks. replaced by another one more similar to the original.[5] Around May 30, 1984, a pedestrian bridge was built over the track beach to shorten the journey between the station and the coastal neighborhoods, which was popularly known as the red bridge.[6] Between 1988 and 1991, during the execution of the First Station Modernization Plan, the Almería facilities were restored.[7] During the course of said reform The entrance to two air raid shelters built during the war was discovered,[8] and an underground space with three rooms, but the relationship between both findings is not certain.
Its main façade has two bodies, the central one being made of iron and glass, characteristic materials of iron architecture. The most reliable information about the author maintains that it was designed by Laurent Farge, who was in charge of the calculation and assembly project. The central body and some stained glass windows were designed by the French company Fives-Lille. A file was initiated for its declaration as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985. This declaration has not yet been completed.[9].
In January 2018, restoration work began that will give the city a space for cultural, musical and hospitality events.[10] The popular red bridge was painted white for the occasion.[11] The works were suspended in December 2019 because they needed a new project due to serious deficiencies in the structure and were resumed in September 2020,[12] being completed in March 2021.[13].
On March 4, 2024, the last Intercity "Intercity (Renfe)") and Medium Distance trains circulate through the station due to underground works until mid-2026, with passenger services being transferred to the Huércal-Viator station temporarily until the works are completed.
The old bus station was designed by architect Guillermo Langle Rubio in 1952. Its construction was completed ten years later, and it was expanded in the following decades. It follows a rationalist style "Rationalism (architecture)"), typical of Almería, and continued its use until the move to the new station. It houses original frescoes by the Indalian movement painter Luis Cañadas that are still preserved. In 2006, the Mercadona distribution company opened there, which has continued since then.[14].
The new intermodal station
The old station was renovated in an operation that was completed in 2005. A new building was built in the same premises but independent of the previous one, using the same platforms. In addition, an esplanade with docks was built next to the new building to transfer the city's bus service to the new station. The Almería station thus became the first intermodal station in Spain, uniting bus and railway services.
The high-speed line that will link Almería with Madrid and the Mediterranean Corridor through Murcia is currently under construction.[15][16][17] This will mean a change in the configuration of the tracks as it will be a line of international gauge, different from the current line. The construction of the Transversal Railway Axis of Andalusia is also being studied, which will allow communication between Huelva, Seville, Málaga, Granada and Almería, and has also passed the Informative Study phase.[18][19].
Services
Railway services
A single line arrives at the station from its origin, the Linares-Baeza-Almería line, with a single electrified track. The electrification was intended for mineral trains due to the steep slopes, so it ends in El Marquesado, so it is not used by passenger trains.
The station has a through station configuration, since the line continues to the port of Almería. All passenger services start or end at the station.
Currently the following trains arrive at Almería-Intermodal:
• - MD: coming from Granada covering line 68 "Line 68 (Media Distancia)") of Media Distancia, 4 trains per direction.
• - Intercity: coming from Madrid-Chamartín, 1 daily train per direction. All connections stop in Linares and Alcázar de San Juan.
Road services
Bus traffic is significantly greater than train traffic in Almería-Intermodal, covering almost all possible national destinations (provincial capitals and cities of some importance). Intercity buses also leave from the station that connect Almería with other municipalities in its province.
• - Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia category on Almería Intermodal Station.
• - File of the historic station of Almería on the Adif website.
• - Almería Station, 1893-2000, edited by Adif, 2014.
• - Article about the Almería railway station.
• - Laurent Farge and French eclecticism in the Almería railway station (article in ph investigation).
Its main façade has two bodies, the central one being made of iron and glass, characteristic materials of iron architecture. The most reliable information about the author maintains that it was designed by Laurent Farge, who was in charge of the calculation and assembly project. The central body and some stained glass windows were designed by the French company Fives-Lille. A file was initiated for its declaration as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985. This declaration has not yet been completed.[9].
In January 2018, restoration work began that will give the city a space for cultural, musical and hospitality events.[10] The popular red bridge was painted white for the occasion.[11] The works were suspended in December 2019 because they needed a new project due to serious deficiencies in the structure and were resumed in September 2020,[12] being completed in March 2021.[13].
On March 4, 2024, the last Intercity "Intercity (Renfe)") and Medium Distance trains circulate through the station due to underground works until mid-2026, with passenger services being transferred to the Huércal-Viator station temporarily until the works are completed.
The old bus station was designed by architect Guillermo Langle Rubio in 1952. Its construction was completed ten years later, and it was expanded in the following decades. It follows a rationalist style "Rationalism (architecture)"), typical of Almería, and continued its use until the move to the new station. It houses original frescoes by the Indalian movement painter Luis Cañadas that are still preserved. In 2006, the Mercadona distribution company opened there, which has continued since then.[14].
The new intermodal station
The old station was renovated in an operation that was completed in 2005. A new building was built in the same premises but independent of the previous one, using the same platforms. In addition, an esplanade with docks was built next to the new building to transfer the city's bus service to the new station. The Almería station thus became the first intermodal station in Spain, uniting bus and railway services.
The high-speed line that will link Almería with Madrid and the Mediterranean Corridor through Murcia is currently under construction.[15][16][17] This will mean a change in the configuration of the tracks as it will be a line of international gauge, different from the current line. The construction of the Transversal Railway Axis of Andalusia is also being studied, which will allow communication between Huelva, Seville, Málaga, Granada and Almería, and has also passed the Informative Study phase.[18][19].
Services
Railway services
A single line arrives at the station from its origin, the Linares-Baeza-Almería line, with a single electrified track. The electrification was intended for mineral trains due to the steep slopes, so it ends in El Marquesado, so it is not used by passenger trains.
The station has a through station configuration, since the line continues to the port of Almería. All passenger services start or end at the station.
Currently the following trains arrive at Almería-Intermodal:
• - MD: coming from Granada covering line 68 "Line 68 (Media Distancia)") of Media Distancia, 4 trains per direction.
• - Intercity: coming from Madrid-Chamartín, 1 daily train per direction. All connections stop in Linares and Alcázar de San Juan.
Road services
Bus traffic is significantly greater than train traffic in Almería-Intermodal, covering almost all possible national destinations (provincial capitals and cities of some importance). Intercity buses also leave from the station that connect Almería with other municipalities in its province.
• - Wikimedia Commons hosts a multimedia category on Almería Intermodal Station.
• - File of the historic station of Almería on the Adif website.
• - Almería Station, 1893-2000, edited by Adif, 2014.
• - Article about the Almería railway station.
• - Laurent Farge and French eclecticism in the Almería railway station (article in ph investigation).