The C-5 line is a rail service of Cercanías Asturias commuter rail network, operated by Renfe Operadora. Its termini are Gijón and La Pola de Llaviana/Pola de Laviana stations.
History
In 1842, a commission studied the possibility of building a railway to link the coal-mining areas along the Nalón basin to the port of Gijón. The Compañía de Ferrocarril de Langreo was founded in 1846, and the following year work began on the line, which was to be a standard gauge line. The first section of the line (Gijón-Pinzales) was opened in 1852 under the auspices of Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, marking the first railway line to be built in Asturias. In 1856 the line was extended to Sama and in 1875 it reached its present terminus in Laviana.[1]
In the latter half of the 20th century, railway freight transport lost its economic significance, and Ferrocarril de Langreo accumulated a considerable amount of debts. Consequently, in 1972, the ownership of this line was transferred to FEVE, a government-owned company established with the objective of operating all narrow-gauge railway lines within Spain.[2] As this line was not originally built as a narrow-gauge line the transition from international-gauge was completed in 1984, so it could be integrated with the rest of the FEVE-operated lines.[3]
Following the integration of Feve into Renfe Feve in 2012 (renamed as Renfe Cercanías AM in 2021), due to the lack of investment, infrastructure has been deteriorating and the poor conditions of the rolling stock have repeatedly caused service cancellations in the past. years.[4][5][6] This unreliability has also caused a dramastic reduction in the number of daily passengers.[7][8]
In 2011, the old el Humedal Station was demolished and the train service was reallocated to a provisional station until an intermodal station is built in the future.[9][10]
Future
According to the Plan de Cercanías, a number of works are anticipated to be carried out on the line in the future. These include the duplication of railway lines, the installation of new security and electric systems, and the replacement of existing sleepers.[11] Besides, it is expected that the underground segment of the railway line traversing Langreo, along with the construction of two new stations in Sama and La Felguera, will be completed by 2025.[12][13] There are also plans to introduce new semi-express services that will not stop at every station in order to provide a faster service.[14]
.svg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
