This important project, the most ambitious ever on the Costa del Sol, took another step nearer becoming reality yesterday when the Andalucian government announced who gets the contracts for the first section of the line, a 4 km stretch of double tunnel between Las Lagunas and La Cala de Mijas.  A joint venture comprising Ferrovial and Grupo Azni are awarded the right tunnel while the left one goes to a group headed by Detea and Obras Subterraneas.  The cost of this section is estimated at €160 million and is expected to take 42 months to complete.

When finished the line will run for over 50 kms between Malaga and Estepona with 90% of it underground.  The section between Fuengirola and Estepona is down to the regional government while central government in Madrid is undertaking the Malaga to Fuengirola section as well as remodelling existing stations and putting the line into the airport underground.

The Andalucian government has been in funding discussions with the European Investment Bank since January and announcements are expected shortly.  With the project looking like it's now moving from the 'will it, won't it happen' stage to work in progress it will be a huge boost to the local and wider economy, plus being great for the environment and can only make the Costa del Sol a more attractive location in which to live in the future.