Page 113 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

South Madrid and High Speed. An example of symbiosis

7. Madrid Atocha’s surroundings. Urban development in the mid 20th century

The history of HS in Spain and more precisely in Madrid and Atocha station would not be
completed without the record of the urban evolution on the mid 20th century. Some of the most
critical decisions regarding railway were taken in close connection with the urban dynamics
that took place along the 20th century. Because of that, it is indispensable to look back and
watch carefully what was happening to the society and the city of Madrid on those critical
years, particularly from the post‐war period to the 80’s.

7.1 New (sour) wine into old wineskins

Railway evolved due to social demands and political decision. Regarding the area subject to this
study, the setting of the new HS line and particularly the decision of implementing the terminal
station of a brand‐new HS line in an old refurbished and enlarged building cannot be separated
from the process performed on‐
site.
After the civil war, the urban area
surrounding Atocha station faced
a long process of dereliction that
reached the decade of 1980.
Madrid population and motoring
development soared from the
early 60’s. New problems with
urban traffic were faced by local
powers with aggressive policies
of urban highways. One of the
most harmful examples was
the road bridge built in Atocha
square that totally changed the
character of the place in 1968.
This new infrastructure, far
from solving traffic conditions, Figure 26: Atocha road bridge: the ‘Scalextric’ . Source:
provoked the worsening of http://danceandcars.blogspot.com.es/2010/04/scalextric‐de‐atocha.html
traffic jams and a dramatic rise
of pollution. Hotels located in the area were particularly affected due to the plummeting
air quality and noisy environment. Hotel Mediodia, opened in 1914, languished with its main
façade leaning on the noisy and polluting bridge. Hotel Nacional, a 1926 beautiful Secession
work by Modesto López Otero, closed its doors at the late 70’s. Atocha area accommodation
standards fell to a lower standard.
The effect was so harmful that as early as 1975 the City council started considering the demolition
of the bridge, built only seven years before. It would last in place only nine years more.
7.2 Heritage threatened. The age of scorn

On the other hand, a notorious increase of urban property prices led to real estate speculation
and consequently a permanent threat for heritage buildings. In 1965 the old General Hospital
finished its function. Years later, its proprietor, Madrid Provincial Government, had plans to
demolish it and raise an 18 stories building. In January 1969, a report by Fernando Chueca,
from the Royal History Academy, brought about its inclusion as a historical monument and
consequently saved the building.

International Congress on High-speed Rail: Technologies and Long Term Impacts - Ciudad Real (Spain) - 25th anniversary Madrid-Sevilla corridor 111