Cartagena-Madrid rail link moves closer to reopening as works enter final stages

The Government says the Cartagena-Chinchilla line is almost ready to reopen, following a 12,000-signature campaign calling for the return of direct passenger services

The long-awaited reopening of the railway line between Cartagena and Chinchilla, Albacete, appears to be getting closer, with the Government delegate in Murcia saying the works are now “almost finished”.

Francisco Lucas said on Monday that the Spanish Government remains committed to reopening the conventional railway connection between Cartagena and Chinchilla as soon as the works are completed.

The line has been closed since 2022, cutting Cartagena off from its direct rail route to Madrid via Chinchilla. Lucas previously said he was personally committed to restoring the connection by the end of 2026. However, there is still no confirmed reopening date.

The last passenger train travelled through Chinchilla on August 31 2022. Services were suspended the following day because of railway works around Murcia, with what was expected to be a temporary interruption stretching into its fifth year.

Lucas said the next step once the works are complete will be to put the line back into service.

His comments come just days after a local campaign group took its demand for the return of the Madrid connection directly to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Despierta CT has collected almost 12,000 signatures calling for the service to be restored and has asked the Government for a firm and verifiable timetable.

The reopening of the route is also important beyond passenger travel, as the line is expected to be used for freight while major works take place around La Encina.

Cartagena's mayor Noelia Arroyo has previously called on Transport Minister Óscar Puente to make a firm commitment to reopening the direct railway connection with Madrid via Chinchilla.

After more than four years without the direct connection, the latest message from the Government is that the works are nearly done. What is still missing is a date.

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