VALENCIA UNDERGROUND FORSEES 40 MILLIONS OF TRAVELLERS FOR THE YEAR 2000
COSTA MARTINEZ VERDU
In the implantation process of the subway -tramway which is being developed by the Conselleria of Transports of the Valencian Generalitat in Valencia and its metropolitan area, a year ago -September of 1998- were put in service the strecthes of Alameda -Jesus and Alameda-, Cid avenue belonging to the three line of subway. With that new service is increased the accessibility to the city centre. Those new sections, and the additional possibility of changing to/or from the one line of underground or the four line of tramway, have had as a consequence an important increase of the departure-arrival options getting an increase of 52% in the attended demand by Valencia subway line and waitting to reach in 1999 the 32 millions of passangers, with which could be surpasssed the foresights initially. And is possible forsee that will be reached during the year 2000 an attended demand of around 40 millions of travellers more or less.
Inauguration unit was at Misalta Asmassil station
Into the enlargement programme was put in service the enlargement of the three line of subway with the strecth Cid avenue -Mislata Almassil, extending the underground to the west and reaching to the "pedania" of Mislata. The section leaves from the Avenida del Cid station and goes under the right border of this avenue, and then across Alcacer street and, into Mislata, through Palleter street and Gregorio Gea avenue, to reach the right edge of the new riverbed of Turia river.
This strecth, with a length of 2,400 metres, has three new stations; the first one was at Alcocer street is called Nou d'Octubre, the second one was at Gregorio Gea avenue, in the" pedania" Mislata centre is called Mislata, and the third one and last station was in the final section of that avenue, next to the new cross of Turia river is called Mislata Almassil.
The three stations have two vestibules each one, were at the beginning and two lateral platforms of 100 metres of length and 4 metres of width. The depth of the platforms in relation to the street is 10 metres, because of the access of the passangers to the platforms is fast and comfortable, and they have also mecanic steps from the vestibules to the platforms.
The stations have been projected looking for wide spaces, seeing from each vestibule all the station and without intermediate structures which could break the global perception.
For the architectural coverings has been used ceramic material from Valencia area, with a different design for each station and they want to get a cleaner and lighter place.
Each station has, in one of the vestibules, elevators from the street to the vestibule and from this to the platforms for people use with a fewer mobility.
Eduardo Zaplana, president of Valencian Generalitat, uncovering the inauguration plate of one strecth of underground
In the same way like last strecth, such in the stations as in the tunnel of the line have equipments and segurity and comfortable installations to the user formed by;
*Ventilation system in development and emergency.
*Telephone system, public address system and intercom system and closed circuit of television.
*Chronometer, marks and teleindicators in the platform which announce the pass of the trains.
*Mecanic steps and elevators for people with fewer mobility.
*Emergency exits and evacuation corridors in tunnels.
*Detection and extinction system of fires.
*Segurity system during the transportation (automatic blockade and A.T.P.).
*Communication train-soil.
*Local control posts at the stations.
Central drive control to check the circulations, energy and segurity.
The trains which drive across the section put in service are the sames that are useful in the rest of the line, with platform on the level of the borders, and with a capacity for 439 travellers each train and a frequency of pass forseen in rush hour of one train each five minutes.
The metric rail, on a concrete flagstone, guarantees a good geometry and comfort during the journey.
We have to point out finally that in the field of the new strecth of underground has been acted to build and urbanize the streets under which circulates the underground, which has affected as much Valencia (Cid avenue and Alcocer street), as Mislata (Pallater street and Gregorio Gea avenue), giving the definitive alignment to Alcocer street and building a central corridor and enlarging the lateral sidewalks at Alcocer street and Gregorio Gea avenue, with a installation of lighting, urban forniture and gardening.
