Sener, RSHP and ERRE to design the new Valencia Central Station

For the development of the new Valencia Central Station, the Adif-Alta Velocidad Evaluation Committee has selected the team led by engineering and technology group Sener, in collaboration with UK-based practice RSHP (co-founded by Pritzker Prize winner Richard Rogers), and Valencian architecture studio ERRE.

The new station will be conceived as an underground infrastructure fully integrated into the city, ‘stitching together’ the urban fabric with the aim of establishing a seamless connection between the new Central Station, the historic Estación del Norte, and the future Central Park. This will create a landscape axis incorporating cycle lanes and pedestrian routes, converging at the new Station Square. Train circulation will be configured as a through-running system, overcoming the current terminus arrangement. In this way, trains will be able to travel through Valencia from north to south without the need to reverse direction, aligning the city with the model of major European railway hubs while improving operational efficiency and connectivity.

The project includes the development of the functional studies and designs required for the construction of a new key intermodal hub for the city. The works will define the construction solutions for the undergrounding of the station and railway tracks, the station’s operational spaces (accesses, concourses, waiting areas, platforms and commercial areas), connections with the other transport modes operating at the station (metro, tram, urban buses, taxis, and other non-motorised modes), as well as the underground car park. The solution will be compatible with the planned development of Central Park, the Access Channel project, and the future through-running tunnel. In addition, the project will address the refurbishment and adaptation of the historic Valencia Nord Station, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, with full respect for its architectural and urban heritage.

The architectural solution challenges the conventional characteristics of an underground station. The proposed design opens the interior of the station to natural light, fresh air and views. Daylight will reach the platforms, while generous open spaces visually connect all levels of the station. Sustainability is at the core of the design, reducing reliance on high-energy mechanical systems while optimising material efficiency to minimise the project’s carbon footprint.

The proposal by Sener, RSHP and ERRE is based on five key principles: railway functionality, urban integration, architectural identity, constructability and operational safety. The station prioritises simplicity, efficiency and organisational clarity; strengthens connections between transport networks and communities; creates an urban landmark rooted in Valencian culture; employs a highly modular construction system that maximises prefabrication; and ensures safe railway operations throughout all construction phases.

Jose Martí, Amparo Roig and M. Ángeles Ros, Architect Partners at ERRE, state: “The conceptualisation of the project arises from respect for the architectural beauty of Estación del Norte, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest. Our strategy is to intervene in the urban space without altering any of its façades, preserving its integrity while enhancing its heritage value.”

Jesús Planchuelo, Railway Director at Sener, highlights that “the new station will enable further progress in the city’s railway transformation, improving connectivity and efficiency through the integration of different transport modes within an infrastructure designed to respond to both current and future mobility needs.”

Ivan Harbour, Senior Design Director at RSHP, states: “Given the complexity of integrating multiple railway transport modes within a single space in a clear and people-centred way, we have designed a 21st-century station for Valencia that will be truly unique. It will be bold, yet also sensitive and welcoming. It will offer an inspiring and generous experience, both for the city and its citizens, whether they are daily commuters or visitors arriving for the first time at the heart of this great city.”