In an attempt to alleviate chronic traffic congestion on Tenerife, the government of the Canary Island has unveiled plans for an island-wide train network, to be completed by 2045.
Tenerife has been a tourist favourite for a long time now but the popular destination is suffering from its success. Since cars and buses are the main means of transportation on the island, traffic congestion has been a real problem for a while now, with 5.8 million people travelling to Tenerife every year. There have been talks of a railroad network for around 20 years but it seems like those plans might finally see the light of day by 2027, the end of the current legislative term.

The total project, covering around 80 kilometres of tracks, 22 kilometres of which will run though tunnels due to the island’s mountainous terrain caused by its volcanic nature, is set to cost over 4 billion euros. However, according to Pablo Rodriguez, regional councillor for public works and mobility, the plan is to divide the works into separate stages. “Instead of needing 4 billion euros upfront, we are discussing segments that require 300 or 400 million euros, making it more feasible financially”, he told British newspaper Express.
Not only will the project be carried out In different stages, the railroad system will also consist of different lines. The southern part will serve the eastern coast of the island, the northern part is scheduled to run alongside the TF-5 motorway corridor, offering high-speed connections between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Los Realejos, and the western part would run between Icod de los Vino and Adeje.
According to the Express, every train would be able to carry 450 passengers at a maximum speed of 220 kilometres an hour. By these calculations and if the timeline is respected, by 2040, before its full completion, the network will have transported around 7.5 million passengers a year.