AVE shuttle solution no longer shrugged off

THE chances of a Benidorm shuttle to the AVE railway station in Alicante City improved once Sonia Castedo resigned as mayor.

She bitterly opposed a regular bus service, insisting that this would bring chaos to the city centre.  Her successor Miguel Valor was more receptive, and the three-party coalition that took over after the May elections is looking for a workable solution.

City hall’s Transport department is now considering the viability of constructing a vehicle entrance between Avenida de Aguilera and the AVE station. This option would ensure that heavy traffic in adjoining busy streets like Oscar Espla and Salamanca would not collapse under the pressure of more buses, city hall sources said. 

Benidorm has been calling for a direct link with the AVE station since the high speed rail link with Madrid first began operating in June 2014.  

The resort is a favourite destination for Madrid tourists who have responded massively to the reasonable AVE prices, but are faced with the problem of reaching their ultimate destination once they arrive in Alicante.