Page 103 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

South Madrid and High Speed. An example of symbiosis

these almost two centuries past, cities and railway have had a parallel development, although
their relationship has been somehow asymmetric, as railway’s demanding geometry established
tough conditions. The flexible tissue of the city had to adapt to the rigid lines of tracks. Costly
civil works frequently raised barriers and segregated neighbourhoods.

On the other hand, railway injected plenty of energy on cities’ activity, fed their growth and
ordered their surrounding territories.

Madrid and the area around Atocha station are a good example of these permanent dynamics.

3. Atocha urban area: origins and evolution

3.1 Outside the city walls

Prior to railway implementation, Atocha was an external urban area. Since the arrival of the
Royal Court to Madrid in 1561, the city exceeded its medieval walls and was successively
encircled by other enclosures with no military purpose, but only for taxation. The latter was
built in 1625. One of its openings was the so‐called Atocha gate, located in a spot close to the
current roundabout and the fountain in front of the station.

Figure 2: Atocha gate and the Artichoke Fountain in 1840. Source: Wikipedia.

The gate stood at the edge of a leisure zone, the Prado (meadow), a promenade that provided
shadow, water and fresh air to Madrid citizens in summer hot season.
Outside the Atocha gate started the road to Valencia, a very important connection with the
closest harbour. It was also the way to Vallecas, a small town that supplied flour and bread for
the court. In the near vicinity stood the sanctuary of Atocha, a very popular place of worship
patronized by the monarchy which gave its name to the area.

International Congress on High-speed Rail: Technologies and Long Term Impacts - Ciudad Real (Spain) - 25th anniversary Madrid-Sevilla corridor 101