Cercedilla – Segovia

In May 1883, the Spanish Parliament approved the construction of the railway line between Villalba and Segovia, after several decades of social and political demands from the Castilian-Leonese capital to obtain a rail connection with Madrid. A little over a year later, in July 1884, the contract for the work was awarded, and after a construction period of five years, it was inaugurated in June 1888. [1] [2]

The approved route required the construction of seven tunnels to cross the Sierra de Guadarrama and connect the northern plateau with the southern plateau. [3]

Originally, this line and the Segovia-Medina del Campo line formed an alternative to the Madrid-Hendaye line, to which they connected at both ends. This allowed long-distance trains to stop in Segovia or to take a detour in the event of blockages on the main line. Low demand along much of the route led to the closure of the section between Medina del Campo and Segovia in 1993. In addition, after the opening of the Ferrocarril de Cotos, it was decided to connect the line to the conventional railway network at Cercedilla station. [4]

The first electrification of the section, with 1.5 KV direct current, was completed in two phases, the first in 1944 between Villalba and Cercedilla, and the second as far as Segovia in 1946. Subsequently, in 1972, the entire route was changed to 3 KV DC. [5] [6] [7]

Currently, the section between Villalba and Cercedilla belongs to the C-8 Madrid commuter line, while line 53 services are operated with Renfe’s Regional Medium Distance trains. [8]

Recently, in 2021, the Segovian Business Federation (FES) announced the Prado del Hoyo business project, a logistics platform that will use a newly constructed branch line to distribute goods along this railway line. [9]

This line also offers some unique tourist services, due to the beauty of the landscapes it crosses and the history of the cities it connects. Thus, the Association of Friends of the Madrid Railway holds various activities. And the Plaza Mayor Cultural Association of Segovia promotes every year ‘the train of emotions’, a cultural event on board in which the trades of railway employees are recreated. [10] [11]

Several Segovian town councils are continually calling for the revitalisation of the line by increasing the frequency of services and promoting its use. [12] [13]

In landscape and cultural terms, it is a line of historical origin that crosses a mountain landscape of great scenic quality and deep historical significance. It is an area well known to people from Madrid and Segovia, who seek to escape the bustle of the cities in these valleys and mountains. It is an established local tourist destination with deep historical, literary, cultural and natural significance.

Category A1
Electrified track with concrete sleepers in a good state of repair.