Adif is moving forward with a €107 million investment to modify the Madrid-Zaragoza rail line for so-called railway highway (Autopista Ferroviaria - AF) services, which form part of the Algeciras-Zaragoza route. Within this project to get more goods on rails more than 60% of the planned €468 million investment already allocated.
The company has awarded a €78 million contract to adapt the railway gauge of tunnels and overpasses to accommodate semi-trailers for the AF service between Madrid and Zaragoza. This work will cover 40 overpasses and 26 tunnels along the conventional line, spanning the provinces of Madrid, Guadalajara, Soria, and Zaragoza. The adaptations will involve expanding tunnel sections, modifying platforms, and renewing key infrastructure components such as sleepers, rails, and ballast. Additionally, drainage and electrification work will be undertaken to support the modifications.
Who will do the work
The adaptation work will be carried out by two joint ventures. The segment from San Fernando de Henares to Santa María de Huerta (Soria) will be handled by a consortium of Contratas y Ventas Convensa, Ferrovial Construcción, Vías y Construcciones, and Agrupación Guinovart Obras y Servicios Hispania. Meanwhile, the section from Santa María de Huerta to Zaragoza will be managed by Tecsa Empresa Constructora and Dragados.
Extending sidings for 750 m trains
In addition to this, Adif has launched a tender for the extension of sidings at the stations of Arcos de Jalón (Soria) and Sigüenza (Guadalajara) for €8.9 million. These sidings will be lengthened to 750 meters, enabling the accommodation of longer trains and improving the efficiency of rail freight operations on the route.
A further €20 million has been allocated for the supply of rail and sleepers to support both the siding extensions and gauge adaptations.
Adif's investment plan for the Algeciras-Madrid-Zaragoza route already mobilized €287 million, including the adaptation of 174 structures (43 tunnels and 131 overpasses) on the AF route between the Port of Algeciras Bay and the Zaragoza Plaza terminal.
Moreover, track extension works at 11 stations along the route will be contracted to increase efficiency and competitiveness. Additional projects include the consolidation of the Almargen slope (Málaga) and the implementation of the Automatic Banalized Block (BAB) system between Guadalajara and Calatayud, aimed at improving train traffic management.
360 trucks a day
The AF service on the Algeciras-Zaragoza route is expected to support six daily trains, carrying approximately 360 trucks and reducing road traffic by about 360,000 kilometers each day. The service will also extend to Tarragona via Zaragoza, linking key production and consumption centers in Spain and forming part of the logistics chain between Europe and Morocco.
The plan includes:
· 3 daily trains in each direction running on the Algeciras-Zaragoza route with trucks to/from Morocco
· 1 daily trains in each direction from Huelva to Zaragoza, with trucks to/from the Canary Islands and the surrounding area of Huelva;
· 2 daily trains in each direction from Seville to Zaragoza, with trucks to/from the Port of Seville and Andalusia
There are currently two high-speed AF train routes in service in Spain:
· Valencia-Madrid (in Iberian gauge)
· Barcelona-Le Perthus (in standard gauge)
Adif is working on 15 more AF routes, 12 in Iberian gauge and 3 in standard gauge
Spain is utilizing European Union money from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan to support the implementation of the Railway Highway between Madrid and Zaragoza.
