Page 125 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

South Madrid and High Speed. An example of symbiosis

Figure 56: HS network serviced from Atocha. Source: Adif and Juan Ayrault

In spite of Atocha’s success, tensions never disappeared. Scarcity of parking spaces provoked
complaints from customers that could hardly park their vehicles before taking their trains. In
2007, during the mandate of Alberto R. Gallardón, the City Council proposed the transfer to
the HS terminal to a building 4 km southwards, on the grounds of the Abroñigal freight station.
Adif and the Ministry never accepted this proposal, defending that Atocha’s location favoured
intermodality much more than the suggested one that, in any case, was only more accessible
for private cars. Even this point was uncertain, as Abroñigal station stays in a section of the first
road ring (M‐30) particularly exposed to traffic jams.

8.3 A complex system

Atocha works as a complex piece of architecture and engineering, an addition of particular
elements closely linked that work as a whole. Commuter and HS stations, located in different
levels, as well as ancillary facilities, retail venues and leisure areas complement each other as
part of the passenger experience.

Figure 57: Commuter station dome, arrivals terminal and vaulted car park. Source: Adif.

International Congress on High-speed Rail: Technologies and Long Term Impacts - Ciudad Real (Spain) - 25th anniversary Madrid-Sevilla corridor 123