(Almansa-Valencia line)

The Vía Verde de Manuel, which measures 3.2 km, only passes through the municipality of Manuel. Nonetheless, it represents the start of the process to convert the Xàtiva–La Pobla Llarga railway route.

Project currently at the research and development stage.

In 1851, José Campo Pérez founded the Sociedad de Ferrocarriles del Grao de Valencia a Játiva. The first section of its railway, between Valencia and El Grau, started to operate in 1852. In the same year, Valencia was connected to Silla, and Silla to Benifaió. The next stretch was Benifaió–Alzira, which opened on 26 February 1853. As it was extended southwards, its intersection with the Júcar River required the construction of a metal structure imported from Great Britain. This led to delays in the completion of the Alzira–Carcaixent section, which was eventually finished on 31 March 1854: a lengthy process given this stretch was only 3,631 m long. In July 1854, the line reached Manuel, and in December of the same year, it was extended to Xàtiva. 

The Valencia–Xàtiva railway was a real artery. Even before it was completed, the Sociedad de Ferrocarriles del Grao de Valencia a Játiva planned to extend the line southwards and link it to the Madrid–Alicante line via Almansa. José Campo’s proposal was to continue from Xàtiva along the Montesa Valley and Moixent towards Almansa. The section from Moixent to Almansa was finished in 1859.

Other lines converged with the Valencia–Xàtiva railway route: on 8 February 1864, a horsecar was introduced from Carcaixent station to Gandia, though the animals would be replaced by steam engines in 1881. The line was developed so that it reached Dénia in 1884. In August 1878, a metre-gauge railway was opened between Silla and Cullera: a route that would be widened and brought into line with the Iberian gauge in 1935. On 1 December 1896, an animal-powered tram was opened between Manuel station and La Pobla Llarga, which is now the route of the greenway.

There are no significant elements of the area’s rail heritage along this short new infrastructure developed by the Valencian Government and Manuel Town Council. Slightly further south, as the greenway is extended, it will incorporate two highly relevant structures. The first is the old Manuel station, opened on 1 July 1854 along with the Manuel–Carcaixent section. The other is the old iron bridge over the Albaida River. Now dismantled, it is made up of five ashlar pillars and acts as a viewpoint over the river.