CAMP DE TARRAGONA STATION: analysis, challenges and comparison with the Valens TGV station

Identifier:  TFM:96

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFM96

Authors:  Calero López, Antonio

Abstract:
The arrival of high-speed railways (HSR) to Tarragona is a landmark event. Ever since, all the dynamics related to this service have begun to be developed after the improvements in connectivity which ensued. The station is within the Madrid-Barcelona-French border high-speed railway, giving the territory a range of opportunities and challenges because of its direct relation, through this network, to urban centers high in the territorial hierarchy. This analysis focuses on the study of the traits of the station built in Camp de Tarragona on the periphery of the city, taking into account key features like its location, facilities, accessibility, ways communication, public transport and parking space. These features are chosen to obtain a general vision of aspects to establish, in this same analysis, the challenges and proposals to improve the deficiencies which may be identified. To do so, the study uses another case as an example of a high-speed railways station in the periphery: the station of Valence in southeastern France. The similarities between Valence and Tarragona allow for a comparative example to determine the strengths and weaknesses of Tarragona’s station. The final segment of the analysis is an approach to the territorial policies implemented in both cases on urban and regional affairs. The goal of the comparison is to extract relevant proposals and experiences for Tarragona, where these fields still offer many aspects to work upon. The final result of the project is to establish strategic lines through which the high-speed railway service can be improved, eliminate historical deficiencies and adapt the station in Tarragona to the new territorial logics of the future.