Valencia Access Channel and redevelopment of Joaquín Sorolla Station
The Valencia Access Channel is one of the three major phases of the Mediterranean Corridor’s passage through the city of Valencia, to be followed in the future by the New Central Station and the through tunnel. Therefore, the Access Channel is a key project both for the Mediterranean Corridor and for the city of Valencia and its mobility.
It is currently the most ambitious project in the Valencian Community and aims to completely transform the city of Valencia by removing the existing physical barrier created by railway tracks and stations located in the heart of the city.
The project involves the construction of a large multi‑level underground tunnel, with significant technical complexity. The construction method used is cut‑and‑cover, which consists first of building lateral diaphragm walls that will define the tunnel perimeter. Next, the upper concrete slabs are constructed, supported by the existing ground and the diaphragm walls already in place. Subsequently, excavation begins beneath these slabs, with special attention paid to the groundwater level, which must be lowered and controlled using pumping wells and jet grouting. Once the required excavation depth is reached, the lower slabs are constructed, supported on the ground and anchored into the diaphragm walls. After completing the tunnel structures, the tracks are installed, allowing trains to run underground and significantly improving urban integration.
This project represents a major engineering challenge, as the diaphragm wall excavation is extremely deep, reaching up to 40 meters (equivalent to a building of more than 10 storeys), requiring highly precise calculations to ensure proper performance. Another major challenge is maintaining railway service throughout construction, which necessitates dividing the works into phases and implementing temporary track diversions to create working space.
The works also include improvements and expansion of Valencia–Joaquín Sorolla Station, necessary to accommodate the expected increase in rail traffic resulting from the Access Channel. These works include the construction of two new platforms, the expansion of the station concourse with an elevated platform providing access to the new platforms, the enlargement of parking facilities, and the complete redevelopment of the surrounding urban area.
