Majorca is set to build a new £587 million railway that will offer a “mobility alternative to one of the most saturated roads” on the island.
Predicted to be used by millions every year the train service will go from Palma to Llucmajor and will crucially stop at Palma Airport.
Llucmajor is the largest municipality on the island, with a population of around 35,000 inhabitants.
It is popular amongst those keen to immerse themselves in authentic Majorcan life with many locals moving out of Palma to Llucmajor to enjoy a quieter way of life.
Until the 1960s there had been a railway link between Palma and Llucmajor until it was closed, its remains are clear for all to see from bridges to stations which have now been converted into homes or offices.
Set to be completed in 2032 the new line will be 17 miles long, of which 4.5 miles will be underground.
It is expected those in Palma will be able to get to Palma Airport in a short 11 minutes and Llucmajor in 28 minutes. People travelling from Llucmajor will arrive at Palma Airport in 17 minutes
The route will pass through densely populated neighbourhoods such as Son Oliva, Son Fortesa, Can Capes, Son Gotleu and Coll d’en Rebass.
It is hoped the new service will help end traffic chaos on the island, Prohens and her government are under pressure to resolve the traffic problems on the island with many key roads suffering gridlock at peak times.
Earlier this month Prohens said: “This month, the project for the new train service from Palma to Llucmajor will go on display. It will also connect, among other points, Palma’s residential neighbourhoods with the Son Llàtzer University Hospital, the future Palma Exhibition Centre, Palma Airport and a park-and-ride car park at Son Oms.
“A project with which we are recovering and starting up again, after a decade of many promises and announcements, but of absolute paralysis, with not a single metre of track put out to tender.”
Prohens admitted that the islands needed cash from the central administration in Madrid to pay for many projects which they had on the drawing board at the moment.