ALCOY TO CIEZA

FFCC Economicos de Villena a Alcoy y Yecla (VAY)

FC de Jumilla a Cieza

 ALCOY-CONCENTAINA-MURO-AGRES-BOCAIRENT-BANYERES-VILLENA-YECLA-JUMILLA-CIEZA

Known locally as "La Xixarra", this was a long, straggling line which never seemed to know whether it was coming or going.  From Alcoy, the VAY shared the tracks of the Alcoy-Gandia to just beyond Muro, then set off on its own through two 180 degree curves followed by a 90 degree bend  to head south west through Bocairent and Banyeres to Villena, its headquarters.  From there is continued through to Jumilla, where it had a head-on connection with the JC, which continued to Cieza, where it connected with the RENFE line from Murcia to Albacete. Thus, despite its name, the VAY ran from Muro to Jumilla! The total length of the line was 134Km.

The first section opened from Villena to Banyeres on 12th April 1884, and on to Bocairent on 24th September 1885. There it stuck until 1st April 1906 when the short extension to Agres was completed. Muro, and the junction with the AG, was reached on 20th December 1909. In the opposite direction, the Villena to Yecla section was opened on 13th April 1887, using a temporary station which lasted until 1st March 1905, when the permanent station opened. From Yecla to a temporary station at Jumilla opened on 29th January 1905, the permanent station finally opening on 1st January 1911. Thus the VAY was finally complete.

Although the JC was nominally an independent concern, it was always worked as a single system with, and by, the VAY. It opened from Jumilla to a temporary station a Cieza on 24th April 1921, finally reaching the MZA (RENFE) station at 29th September 1925.

Operations struggled on for another forty years until the inevitable take over by the state, in the form of FEVE,  on 1st February 1965. The entire line was closed on 1st July 1969.

Two services daily operated throughout the line. Perhaps the most famous aspect of the line was its motley collection of home built, silver painted railcars, the first of which appeared in 1929. In the last years of the lines, these railcars also worked the occasional trip over the Alcoy to Gandia line. Unlike the 2 locos of the AG, no rolling stock has been officially preserved. Railcar no. 17 saw further service on the Alicante to Denia line.  After final withdrawal, it was stored for possible preservation. It is believed to have been purchased privately and restored, but where and by whom is not known.

I have yet to explore the course of this line, much of which is in use as a "Via Verde". I firmly intend to eventually, at which point this page will, hopefully, be expanded and improved.

LINKS

You tell me!  Apart from the odd reference to its current use as a cycle track, I have found nothing on the Internet at all. Fortunately, we have the Lluis Prieto book to fall back on (see bibliography)