Adif has been awarded a contract to draw up a project to implement standard gauge on the 138 km long Huesca-Canfranc line in Spain. This is part of an effort to reopen the cross-border line across the Pyrenees to France, which has been closed for decades. The Spanish railway network is mainly built on tracks with Iberian gauge. To better connect to the cross-border line, Adif is converting this section to standard European gauge.
This action, which is part of an agreement signed by the governments of the two countries, northeastern Spain region Aragon and the French region of Nouvelle Aquitaine, will make it possible to establish a link across the Pyrenees and thus boost rail transport. In the case of freight transport, it will also make it possible to link important logistics hubs.
The project to implement a standard gauge between Huesca and Canfranc has been awarded to the Temporary Joint Venture (UTE) formed by Meta Engineering and Subterra Ingeniería for 847,000 euros. It should be finished within period of ten months. This project will be co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
In addition to the implementation of a standard gauge, the project includes equipping the line with the ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System), the world's most advanced train control system, which will guarantee interoperability of cross-border traffic. In order to adjust the track gauge, 450-metre sidings will be built at stations and an electrification plan will be prepared, the necessary actions in the infrastructure (level crossings, tunnels, bridges and overpasses and underpasses) will be defined, as well as the operation of safety and communication equipment.
