Huge £677m Spanish island upgrade will link major city to airport in 11 minutes

Ambitious plans to transform Majorca's transport system could boost tourism to an already overcrowded hotspot. Last year, the Balearic government green-lighted a new electric train service linking the to the town of Llucmajor.

The 27.45km line, which was originally budgeted at €690 million (£577 million) will have the capacity to carry a staggering 7.5 million passengers annually - and signals growing demand on the island. According to , this will allow passengers to travel from Palma to Mallorca Airport in just 11 minutes - while Palma to Llucmajor will take around 22 minutes.

It will depart from Palma and stop at Son Oliva, Son Fortesa, Can Capes, Son Gotleu, Es Coll d'en Rabassa, the airport, the Son Oms industrial estate, Es Pil·larí, Bellavista, Ses Cadenes, S'Arenal and the Son Noguera industrial estate, before reaching Llucmajor. More recently, a 10km-long (6.2 miles) underground tunnel connecting Palma Conservatory with the Son Costa station has also been proposed.

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reports the route extension will help bring the line closer to 'new urban areas', and will include two new stops (the Conservatori and Bellavista). "Of the 30 kilometres of the line, almost 10 kilometres will be underground," it added.

The project will see a 3.75-kilometre tunnel section between the new station in the area of the Conservatory and Son Güells. Then, the train will come to the surface for a 4.5km stretch before going back underground in a new section between the Mercapalma area and the Son Oms industrial estate passing through the airport. The rest of the route to Llucmajor will continue above ground.

The publication claims the budget for the works now stands at a whopping €810 million (£677 million), more than €100 million more than the initial project. Construction for the mega transformation is scheduled to begin in 2028, with a completion aim of 2032 - meaning it'll be a while before both tourists and locals can make use of the new infrastructure.

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However, residents have already expressed concern that such changes will ever come to light. "[The money] would build a very large number of apartments and houses for local people. Priorities?" one local fumed in the comments section of Spanish news.

Another agreed, arguing: "Is this another 'Pie in the Sky' railway scheme that will not happen?" while a third simply snubbed: "It's never going to get built." However, many local businesses have applauded the new line, arguing it will 'significantly help' connect neighbourhoods with the rest of the city.

"This decision is very positive. It will help many Palma residents get to the market and the local businesses surrounding it by train," said the president of the employers' association, Carolina Domingo. The measure has been welcomed by the market's own traders: "We have been demanding for years more and better public transport to help residents reach the Mercat de Pere Garau comfortably."

The update comes as the group Menys Turisme, Més Vida (less tourism, more life) is working to 'redouble' its efforts ahead of the peak summer months. It plans to to demand a stop to over-tourism and the .

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