The first 28 km of this 391 km line are shared with the existing Madrid–Seville high-speed rail line. The section onwards to Valencia was inaugurated on 15 December 2010 and entered service on 19 December 2010. Thirty trains run every day, fifteen in each direction. 22 are non-stop services and eight call at intermediate stations. Non-stop trains between Madrid and Valencia cover the in 1 hour and 40 minutes, saving two hours on the previous service of Alaris trains on the classic line. The line is built to international gauge, and electric powered at 25 kV AC, with signalling ERTMS levels 1 and 2.
Valencia–Castellón
This segment was inaugurated on 22 January 2018 and is a part of the Mediterranean Corridor. With this extension to Castellón a new AVE service Madrid-Castellón was introduced which cut the journey time between the two cities by further 30 minutes to total 2 hours and 25 minutes. Four AVE trains per day are scheduled, two in each direction between Madrid and Castellón while this segment is also used by the Alvia service Gijón–Castellón.
This 41.2 km segment is in service with a maximum speed of 220 km/h.
Motilla del Palancar–Albacete
A 62.8 km segment between Cuenca and Albacete provinces. This section was inaugurated on 15 December and open to the public on 19 December 2010.
Albacete–Nudo de La Encina–Monforte del Cid–Alicante
The 171.5 km section from Albacete to Alicante opened in June 2013.
Monforte del Cid–Elche–Murcia–Cartagena
The under construction segment between the municipality of Monforte del Cid in Alicante and Murcia has a length of 61,7 kilometers, of which 46,2 are located in the province of Alicante and the remaining 15,5 in Murcia. It is a new segment of double track in standard gauge, suitable for speeds up to 350 km/h. The access section towards the new segment to Murcia is in service since 2008, although until the arrival of the AVE, it is only used by Iberian gauge trains. This section is 8,9 km long of which 7,7 km are ready with three track rails, two of standard gauge and one of Iberian gauge.
Murcia–Almería
The main purpose of this line is to connect the Transversal Rail Line to the Madrid-Levante and Mediterranean Corridor rail lines. This segment is 184.3 km.
The Cuenca–Fernando Zóbel railway station is a new station, and is 5 km from the city centre. It is named after painter Fernando Zóbel to commemorate his links to the city. The station occupies 3.950 m² with 8.900 m² of parking space.
Albacete-Los Llanos
is 23.000 m² with a commercial area and parking space for 600 cars.
A new 600 m² station called Requena-Utiel was built with parking space for at least 250 cars. It brings the two small towns of Requena and Utiel on to the high-speed map./
A new Valencia Central Station will be built that eventually replaces the existing Valencia North station. It will be 12 tracks wide in 2 subterranean levels.
The network is planned to expand to Elche and Murcia by 2021, and to be connected to Almería in the Mediterranean Corridor by 2023.
Stations
Elche AV
A 5,500 m² station planned for opening at the end of 2019, with parking space for 500 cars and 50 motorcycles.
Murcia
The new intermodal Murcia del Carmen railway station will be close to the present station. It will be 8 rail tracks wide and will serve buses and local trains.
Cartagena
It is yet unclear whether the current Cartagena railway station, located next to the old town, will be the final station for high speed services or a new station will be built on the outskirts of the city. Construction of the high speed railway between Murcia and Cartagena is scheduled to begin in 2018, and be complete by 2023.
