The delegate of the Government in Asturias, Adriana Lastra, and the Commissioner for Neighbourhoods in Asturias, Cantabria and the Basque Country of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Antonio Berrios, visited this Thursday together with the mayor of Llanera, Eva María Pérez, the Villabona de Asturias Commuter Station to learn about the progress of the works to improve its accessibility, already in the completion phase, and other actions of the environment that are being deployed with an investment of 131 million euros within the Proximity Plan of Asturias.
The Government delegate has stressed that these actions demonstrate the commitment of the Government of Spain to the modernization of the Neighbourhoods network in Asturias to move towards a safer, more accessible and more reliable public transport model.
Adriana Lastra stressed that the intervention in Villabona, together with all the projects under implementation and planned in its surroundings, responds to a comprehensive planning aimed at improving the quality of the service, strengthening territorial cohesion and meeting a historical demand of the citizens, placing Asturias at the centre of the commitment to sustainable mobility.
Likewise, the Commissioner has valued the operational improvement that is being carried out between Adif and Renfe in the Avilés station, through the extension of the platforms, managing to pass from a length of 180 meters that is currently available, to a length of platform of 205 meters, in order to allow the parking of the new Avril de Renfe trains of the 106 series that make the Madrid-Avilés route, making it compatible with the parking of the commuter trains.
In particular, in the council of Llanera and surroundings there are 17 performances. Seven of them add up to a sum of 127 million euros: the improvement of accessibility in Villabona de Asturias (7.7 million); the renovation of the Villabona Tunnels (21.9); the renovation of the Oviedo-Gijón track (66.8); the adequacy and compensation of electrification of the Villabona-San Juan de Nieva section (17.4); the interlocks of the Veriña and Serín stations (12.14); and the elimination of three level steps in Vera corde Asturias (1.15).
Likewise, 4 million euros are allocated to ten actions to improve the accessibility and suitability of platforms in Lugo de Llanera (0.7), Lugones (0.76), Grado/Grau (0.49) and Cancienes (0.38); to improve interoperability and allow the arrival of AVRIL trains (series 106) to Avilés (0.64); the cession of the Historical Building of the station to the Town Hall of Llanera (1.13); and four actions of ‘A Tune’ within the plan of improvement of stations, with an investment of between 0.1 and 0.3 million.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ACCESSIBILITY AND SECURITY
The improvement of accessibility in the station of Villabona de Asturias is in the phase of completion of important actions such as the execution of an access ramp of the street Estacion until the entrance of the lower pass and the execution of a lower pass to materialize the external access to the station of Villabona.
In addition, the works include the execution of stairs and installation of elevators to connect the lower passage with the platforms; the execution of a new southern platform, between lanes 1 and 3, which will serve lane 1; the remodeling of the northern platform, which serves lane 6, to ensure interoperability and accessibility; the installation of shelters on the platforms for the protection of users from inclement weather; and the provision of electricity, lighting, sanitation, telecommunications and security facilities.
Likewise, the works for the improvement of accessibility and adaptation of platforms in Lugo de Llanera; and for the improvement of accessibility and adaptation of platforms of Lugones are in the completion phase. The works for the improvement of accessibility and adaptation of Grade/Grau platforms are already finished; and for the improvement of accessibility and adaptation of Cancienes platforms.
In execution are the works to improve the safety and reliability of the facilities of Serín and Veriña. The actions include the replacement of the electrical interlocks by new electronic interlocks, new technical buildings, as well as new installations with UPS system in each of the technical buildings; new audio track circuits in replacement of the existing track circuits; the adaptation of the automatic BAB blocking of the new interlocks with the collateral stations of Villabona de Asturias and Calzada de Asturias/Gijón Sanz Crespo; new LED type signals in the stations and routes; and a new train protection system to be installed with ASFA Digital beacon.
Within the Proximity Plan, also significant is the action for the renovation of the Villabona Tunnels, which is in the execution phase of previous works to improve reliability, comfort and safety between Oviedo and Gijón, in order to enhance the traffic of travelers and goods.