BALEARIC PRESIDENT PUTS NEW MANACOR TO ARTA RAIL LINK ON TRACK

ARTA
THE foundation stone of a rail track running between Manacor and Arta was laid yesterday by the President of the Balearic Islands, Francesc Antich and his Minister for the Environment and Transport, Gabriel Vicens.

The ceremony held in Arta attended by some 400 people, was the second in the history of the Majorcan Railway Service (SFM) for the same route, the first project having been started back in 1927.

The new construction work will go over the ground originally pioneered by the first service which folded in 1977. Although where still in place, architectural heritage of the railway service will be preserved, new station buildings will be erected at Son Carrio, Son Servera, Arta and Sant Llorenç (already complete.)
The line will be electrified and the rolling stock, the likes of which are already operating in other cities both on the mainland and elsewhere in Europe, is designed to travel at 100 kilometres per hour between stations out of built-up areas, at 50 kph within towns and at 30 kph when approaching level crossings. The emphasis of the design of the new train is on speed, comfort, and minimum damage to the environment, said Vicenç in his inaugural speech. The train, he said, is perfectly compatible with a pedestrian environment and it will be stopping at traffic lights and at other intersections on its route through Manacor on the way to Arta.

The new rail project was officially approved by the Balearic government in August last year and the Majorcan Railway Service (SFM) put two contracts out to public tender in February this year. One was for the construction of the track which will take place in three simultaneous phases, and a separate contract for project management.

Antich said the new rail link had been possible thanks to major investment by Central Government.