Velez-Malaga tram sank into oblivion

THE Velez-Malaga tram has stood abandoned since 2012.

Inaugurated in October 2006 and built with an investment of €30 million, the tram was the form of transport of choice for 64 per cent of the population in Velez-Malaga for almost six years, when the service was abruptly suspended two years ago, perhaps indefinitely.

The difficult decision was made by Mayor Francisco Delgado Bonilla after the Junta de Andalucia (regional government) refused to participate in the co-management of the tram.   

Now, the pioneering multimillion-worth project has now sunk into oblivion and fallen victim to rust and undergrowth. The lack of maintenance has also attracted vandals and thieves who have stolen the copper cables and thrown stones at the traffic lights and glass billboards. Some drivers have even got used to parking their cars on the tramway tracks and according to diariosur.es,the council has started dismantling the street lights to install them in other areas of town. “We prefer using them instead of buying new ones,” said Mayor Francisco Delgado.

To find a solution to the problem, Velez-Malaga Council has asked the Junta de Andalucia to finance the tram, just like it finances the Malaga underground.