Valencian Government Approves €68 Million, 10-Year Bus Contracts for Key Costa Blanca Routes

€68 Million for a Decade of Bus Services

The Valencian regional government has approved a tender process for new 10-year bus service contracts worth a combined €68 million covering two of the Costa Blanca's most important public transport corridors. The approval launches the public procurement process — bids from operators are yet to be submitted and contracts awarded.

Regional spokesperson Miguel Barrachina described the move as overdue: "The aim is to provide more stability and improve service quality after years of outdated or expired operating contracts."

The Two Routes

Route 1 — Valencia to Benidorm (Coastal Corridor):
Serving Gandía, Dénia, Xàbia (Jávea), Calpe, Benissa and Altea — the full length of the northern Costa Blanca.

Route 2 — Torrevieja to Alicante (Southern Corridor):
Serving Pilar de la Horadada, Orihuela Costa, San Miguel de Salinas, Rojales, Guardamar del Segura, Santa Pola and Elche — covering the southern Costa Blanca's most densely populated expat areas.

Planned Improvements

Beyond simply renewing the existing service, the new contracts are designed to deliver meaningful improvements:

• Enhanced connections to Alicante-Elche Airport
• Improved links to AVE high-speed rail stations
• Better connections to Torrevieja Hospital

Why This Matters for Residents

Many of the bus contracts currently operating along the Costa Blanca had either expired or were running under outdated terms — a situation that limited investment in rolling stock, routes, and timetables. The new 10-year framework gives operators the long-term certainty needed to invest in service improvements that residents and tourists along both corridors have been waiting for.

This article is based on reporting from Alicante Today, published May 2026.