The unfinished Cartagena-Totana strategic railroad is a flat and long trail through Campo de Cartagena and the fertile plain of Guadalentín has an extensive variety of fruit and vegetables.
This Greenway has been developed by the Murcia Region's Ministry for Tourism and Culture.
LOCATION Between the neighborhood of Los Dolores (north of Cartagena) and the railway station of Totana. REGION OF MURCIA.
Lengh:53 Km
Users:
level of accessibility: Apt*
* With difficulties. Where the trail goes around the plastic factory Sabic and the Casa Grande estate, there are ramps at km 12.6 and 12.9; as well as long climbs with some slope on the sections km 14.3 to 16 and km 16.2 to km 16.5.
The Greenway has been closed where it passes through La Loma estate. This means it has to go around the border of the property on a 1.1 km alternative route with undeveloped trails between km 29 and km 30.1.
Type of surface:
compacted earth.
Natural Landscape:
The landscape is mainly vast plains of irrigated horticultural crops in Campo de Cartagena, typically citrus and traditional fields of dry land. It also has eight Protected Natural Spaces located within a radius of less than 5 km: The Sierra Espuña Regional Park; the Sierra de los Victorias Special Areas of Conservation, Cabezas del Pericón, Sierra de la Tercia, Saladares del Guadalentín, and Sierra Espuña, and the Special Protection Areas of Sierra Espuña, and Saladares del Guadalentín (Red Natura 2000).
Cultural heritage::
Cartagena: Extensive monumental, archaeological and museum complex
Fuente Álamo: Parish of San Agustín, aljibón de Corverica, hermitage of San Roque and municipal museum.
La Pinilla (Fuente Álamo): Monserrat church, Los Cabecicos Sanctuary, flour mill and Roman road.
Alhama de Murcia: archaeological museum Los Baños, castle, church of San Lázaro, casa de la Tercia, pósito municipal, old town hall.
Totana: Santa Eulalia de Mérida Sanctuary, Plaza de la Constitución and Balsa Vieja, Town Hall, Santiago parish, Juan de Uzeta fountain, casa de las Contribuciones, Las Tres Marías church and archaeological site of La Bastida.
Infrastructure:
The Guadalentín River Viaduct, concrete bridges, underpasses, pontoons and sewers. The old ruined station of El Romeral (Alhama de Murcia).
Greenway Equipment:
Milestones, bollards, handrails, tree repopulation alongside the trail, indicators and vertical signs.
rest areas in Cartagena (km 0), RM-E18 crossroad (km 3,8), La Aljorra (km 7,6), Finca Grande (km 16), Fuente Álamo (km 20,9), Campillo de Arriba (km 27,6), La Pinilla (km 32), cruce RM-E11 (km 36,5) y old station of El Romeral (km 40,8) with information panels, benches and picnic tables.
How to get there:
Cartagena (km 0): The east end of this trail is located on Calle cartagenera de Alfonso XIII (crossing of the old N-301A), at the height of Álvarez Alonso, Pedestrian street that connects the link with the Greenway in Peral District.
La Aljorra (km 7,6): Crossing with the RM-605 in the southtern part of the urban area.
Fuente Álamo (km 20,9–km 21,7): Passing through the urban area between the interseccion on the E-15 road and the via street.
Campillo de Arriba (km 27,6): Cross with the Campillo road.
La Pinilla (km 32): Down Molino street. 600 m from the Greenway.
Cruce RM-E11 (km 36,5): A 2,5 km de la RM-23.
Pass under RM-23(km 39.8).Service road for the RM-23 and access to the Condado de Alhama resort.
Estación de ferrocarril de Totana (km 53): Far west of the Greenway.
Managing entity:
Consorcio de las Vías Verdes de la Región de Murcia (Consortium of Murcia Region Greenways)
Murcia: 42 Km from Totana
Murcia: 48 Km from Cartagena
Connections to other Greenways:
The 14-km Mazarrón Greenway is usually considered a branch of the Campo de Cartagena Greenway. The Campo de Cartagena Greenway is used as the initial section of the Mazarrón trail, and can begin inCartagena (a 32 km) or Totana (a 20 km).
The area adjacent to the AP-7 junction is linked to the trail that follows the Tajo-Segura transfer between Cartagena and Orihuela (76 km). The GR-252 is accessed from the western end of the Greenway.
The Greenway starts out among orchards and suburban areas.
To cross the AP-7 (km 2), there are two options: on the right an underpass and on the left an overpass. The first is one kilometre shorter and is not shared with other vehicles, although it usually floods in heavy rain.
After the highway, the Greenway lives up to its name. It traces a long straight line in the vast fruit and vegetable plain of Campo de Cartagena. There is a rich variety of crops on both sides thanks to the trickle irrigation and the water that comes from the Tajo-Segura transfer.
It crosses the RM-605 road at the entrance of La Aljorra (km 7.6), before skirting the urban centre of the district of Fuente Álamo. After La Aljorra (km 8.7), the straight line between the orchards begins again.
Km. 10,5
A fence prevents the original railway line from being traced because the old road has been occupied by the Sabic plastic industry. The Greenway's continuity is guaranteed on an alternative and signposted trail that goes around the fence that on the perimeter of the Casa Grande estate. First, go to the right on the rural track that goes to the RM-602; then on the road purpose-designed for cyclists and walkers that runs along the road to complete a long loop of 4 km.
Km 16
The trail returns to the original track along the railroad at the foot of the Sierra de Los Victorias mountain ranges, covered with aromatic vegetation and esparto grass. This is the counterpoint to the rest of the trail. In such a wild environment, the Greenway winds and cuts into several trenches. Although for a short time, because it starts from the bridge next to Tío Garrafo house (km 18.6), it once again becomes a long straight line through orchard plains with rows of fruit trees and farms. You will notice the smell of the major pork production area in Fuente Álamo.
Km 20,9
The crossing at the E-15 highway (km 20.9) precedes the section through the streets of the urban centre of Fuente Álamo, a large town with a wide variety of services.
After passing through Fuente Álamo (km 21.7), the trail continues on a new straight line through the orchards and fruit trees, marked by the small village of Campillo de Arriba (km 27.6).
At km 29, the Greenway is closed where it passes through the La Loma estate. On the left side, an alternative path goes around the perimeter fence, recovering the trail that has been developed as a Greenway on the other side of the property (km 30.1).
Once again on an infinite straight line, the landscape changes from the greenness of the orchards. Pig farms and dry land take centre stage. The fields are abundant with traditional crops such as almonds, olives and cereals.
Km 32
La Pinilla (km 32) splits in the district of Fuente Álamo, 600 m from the Greenway. Near La Pinilla, the railway line is divided into two: on the left, the Mazarrón Greenway descends towards the San Cristóbal mine hill. Towards the right, the Campo de Cartagena Greenway separates little-by-little from the previous trail and crosses the same riverbed on a twin bridge.
On the way to Totana, the descent begins through the undulating and arid environment of the Guadalentín Basin, where there are high embankments that reveal a bird's eye view of alternating fields of fruit orchards and wasteland, and stretches of colourful and earthy walls. This descent passes through the old underpass of the RM-E11 highway (km 36.5), today a compact piece of concrete that has been replaced by a brand-new walkway.
Km 39,8
Cross the RM-23 (km 39.8) next to Condado Alhama resort. Look for the underpass to the left that goes under the highway. On the opposite side, continue to the right until the original trail is recovered once again to continue on a more slight descent through a wide open space covered by cereal crops in spring, where the lone El Romeral Station still stands (km 40.8).
Starting from El Romeral Station (Alhama de Murcia), the Greenway goes straight along the Guadalentín Plain, a vast plain curdled with orchards. This environment is the Saladares del Guadalentín protected natural space. This stretch is usually shared with agricultural vehicles that leave the terrain roughened.
At km 45.6, the trail crosses the most important structure of this railway: the small viaduct over the Gualalentín. On the other side, the Campo de Cartagena Greenway becomes a paved road that is shared with other vehicles to the urban centre of Totana, facing the towering horizon of the Sierra Espuña mountain ranges. There is not much traffic and the milestones along the Greenway are maintained, although please do proceed with caution.
Km 53
When arriving at the Totana urban centre(km 52.2), the asphalted track (Calle de la Vía Nueva) ends on a cross street (Calle de la Ñorica). Ignore the disused junction of the unfinished railroad with the line in use (in front). Continue along Calle de la Ñorica (on the left) and go to the Mazarrón highway and the bridge that goes over the train tracks. Finally, go to the Totana Railway Station (km 53).
This railroad was constructed on a historical path in parallel with the Mazarrón Greenway, which was made by the Spanish state in the 1920s to complete the national network, whose design was considered too radial.
The investment required was overwhelming for railroad business people and that's when the famous Guadalhorce Plan was conceived, which led to new projects such as this railway.
The project was designed to reach Águilas and ultimately to find a way to Andalusia. It was finally decided to abort the project and connect with the existing network in Totana, abandoning the construction very early when the excavation had already been completed up to the outskirts of Mazarrón.
Tourist information offices Puertas de San José and palacio Consistorial. Tourist information points Museo-Refugio de la Guerra Civil y Muralla Púnica:Telf. 968 128 955;
Región de Murcia or Corvera International Airport: Aena.Telf. 902 404 704; www.aena.es. Between the districts of Valladolises and Corvera (Murcia). 40 km from Totana and 32 km from Cartagena.