Tenerife Clears Path for €2.5 Billion Southern Railway Project
Tenerife has cleared a major administrative hurdle for its €2.5 billion southern railway project after reaching an agreement with airport operator Aena to integrate a station into the Tenerife South Airport renovation.
Tenerife’s transport network is at a turning point following a new agreement between the Island Council and the airport operator, Aena. This deal removes the administrative roadblocks that have long stalled the island’s southern train project. By integrating a railway station into the upcoming renovation of Tenerife South Airport, the agreement clears the way for environmental approval and moves the €2.5 billion project closer to the tendering stage.
Island President Rosa Dávila confirmed that the Council is finalizing the agreement with Aena. This partnership ensures the airport and railway designs are compatible, which is a vital step in securing the environmental permits needed to unlock funding and begin construction. To ensure the project has the necessary technical expertise, the Island Council has also joined the shareholding of Ineco, a public consultancy firm under the Ministry of Transport.
The government aims to open tenders for the first phase—connecting San Isidro to Costa Adeje—between late 2027 and early 2028. This section was prioritized due to the south’s rapid population growth, high tourist numbers, and flatter terrain, which makes construction easier than in the north. Once the full network is complete, the trip between the capital and Adeje is expected to take just 39 minutes.
The project is backed by a co-financing agreement signed in September 2025 with the Spanish government, ensuring state support alongside regional and local funding, with the possibility of additional European investment.
This railway project is now the island’s top priority, reviving a goal that dates back to 1909. What began over a century ago as a proposal to connect Santa Cruz and Garachico has evolved into the region’s most ambitious infrastructure project, designed to finally relieve the chronic congestion on the TF-1 highway and modernize public transport across the island.