The Council of Ministers has today authorized the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) to tender, through Adif, a new contract to advance the modernization and electrification of the 311 km Zaragoza–Teruel-Sagunto railway line, a strategic axis and link between the Mediterranean Corridor and the Atlantic.
The objective of the contract, with an estimated budget of 22 million euros (VAT not included), is to adapt the dimensions of the gauges in 22 upper steps of the route between Teruel and Sagunto, which add 138 km, to be able, later and through another contract, to install the poles, the catenary and the rest of the electrification facilities.
The action involves completely renovating 16 of these upper steps, dismantling four in disuse, addressing the recovery and integration of the environment and carrying out adaptation actions in the rest: downgrading, rippling (displacements) of the line and modifications of its structures.
The upper passes on which action will be taken are distributed along this section of the line as it passes through the provinces of Teruel (five located in the municipality of La Puebla de Valverde, three in Sarrión and four in Albentosa) and Castellón (three passes in the municipality of Jérica, three in Segorbe and one in Barracas, Caudiel, Navajas and Soneja, respectively). These works will soon be followed by those corresponding to the upper passes of the other section of the line, between Zaragoza and Teruel, and those of the tunnels.
These actions will be added to those already underway to electrify the line: last week the support posts of the catenary began to be lifted in the stretch between Zaragoza and Teruel. In addition, the construction of two electrical substations - installations that will provide energy to the catenary - of this section of the line (Cariñera and Villafranca) was recently tendered and the drafting of the project of the Teruel-Sagunto section (Segorbe and Puebla de Valverde) was contracted.
Modernize the Zaragoza - Teruel-Sagunto line
These projects are part of the Master Plan for the modernisation of the Zaragoza – Teruel-Sagunto line, with an investment of more than 450 million euros, which will strengthen its interoperability, reliability and capacity, and increase its speed of movement, thus enhancing its traffic, especially that of goods.
In addition, it will allow the circulation of electric trains, reinforcing the efficiency and sustainability of this mode of transport. The plan includes other actions such as improvements in signage and the provision of apartments for trains of 750 m.
The Zaragoza–Teruel-Sagunto line is strategic for connecting by rail the Mediterranean with the Cantabrian and Atlantic, and linking the port areas of Valencia and Bilbao and the logistics hubs of Platea (Teruel), Zaragoza–Plaza and Júndiz (Vitoria).
Its modernization is part of Adif’s investment and maintenance strategy for the conventional railway and the promotion of freight transport. It also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 (promoting reliable, sustainable and quality infrastructure), 8 (economic growth and job creation) and 7 (sustainability), to which Mitma is committed.
European funding
The constructive project to adapt the dimensions of the upper steps of the route between Teruel and Sagunto can be co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).