The Despeñaperros Pass has been a strategic location for transport between Andalusia and the Spanish Meseta (central plateau of Spain) throughout history.

With the rugged geography of the Pass, full of canyons and gorges, the landscape has spurred the creation of impressive engineering works in the history of transport in Spain, such as bridges and tunnels.

The former went up northwards along the entire western part of the peninsula and the latter road reached the Mediterranean coast after crossing the Guadalquivir valley from west to east.

The plan was devised to help the Pass support cargo freight and stagecoaches, create replacement points for horses and rest areas for travelers.

Once achieved, several previously unsafe areas that were often targeted by brigands became more popular for travel, and the Pass served increasingly as a superior route between Madrid and Cadiz.

[4][6] With the growing increase in traffic through the pass, as early as 1993, work began again in Despeñaperros, as the original project only contemplated totally improving the route heading towards Madrid, and with only two lanes.

The railway route included the construction of several tunnels and bridges to overcome the uneven terrain and allow the train to pass between the gorge and the river excavated by the ravine.

In April of the same year, MZA won the concession to build a railway from Alcázar de San Juan to Ciudad Real and began construction work, which was completed in March 1861.

While these works were taking place, in October 1860, MZA was awarded the state concession for the construction of a railway line between Manzanares and Córdoba.

Due to the orographic difficulties encountered by the construction company, the works on the Manzanares-Córdoba section were not completed until September 1866, when the line was opened to traffic.

[16] The railway line crosses the Despeñaperros gorge through a series of tunnels that take advantage of the river's furrow.