The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has listed for 2 million euros (including VAT) the drafting of two projects, through Adif, one for electrification and another for the construction of the base from which the track assembly of its first section will be carried out, both on the route between Palencia and Alar del Rey (78.4 km) and the connection of Nogales (3.2 km), in what means advancing in the next phases of the development of the new High-Speed Line (LAV) Palencia - Cantabria.
In this way, progress is made in the definition of the works of the next phases while completing the construction of the line platform and the project of the connection of Nogales, the link with the conventional network of the first stretch of the LAV that will allow to put it in service once the construction is finished.
In particular, the first contract was signed for 900,000 euros and is intended for the drafting of the project to deploy the facilities and equipment for the electrification of this first mentioned section.
This is a phase prior to the tendering of the installation works, and includes carrying out studies and defining the actions to determine the location and construction of the substation (which is the installation that will take the electricity from the general network and adapt it and contribute it to the high-speed line). Also for the laying of the contact or catenary airline (high-voltage cable that will be deployed longitudinally on the tracks from which the trains will take energy to circulate), the telemands (device that will allow to manage the system remotely) and the rest of the equipment.
On the other hand, the drafting of the project of construction of the base from which the track of this first stretch will be mounted and which, once in service, will become a maintenance base has also been listed for 1.1 million euros. The project will determine its location and define its endowments: areas for the collection of sleepers, ballast, lane and detours, office building, nave, and rail and road access, among others.
Impulse in the connection of Cantabria at high speed
The Ministry promotes the high-speed connection between Palencia and Cantabria with a global investment of 1.7 billion euros to strengthen the reliability and capacity of the infrastructure and reduce travel times in communications from Cantabria with the center and the rest of the country.
Currently, progress is being made in the construction of the first five subsections of the platform, which add up to 78.4 km: Palencia Norte; Palencia Norte-Amusco; Amusco-Osorno; Osorno-Calsava de Boedo; and Calsava de Boedo-Alar del Rey. It also follows the drafting of the project of the stretch with which the high-speed infrastructure will reach Cantabria, the Alar del Rey-Reinosa (of 51.4 km).
In parallel, the project of the connection of the 3.2 km of the link in Nogales de Pisuerga is being drafted that will make it possible to put into service the Palencia Alar del Rey section and continue to Santander along the conventional line, while the Alar del Rey-Reinosa section is completed.
At the same time, capacity building actions of the conventional line that completes the connection from Reinosa to Santander are promoted.
This action contributes to SDGs 9 (infrastructures, reliable, sustainable and quality), 7 (sustainability) and 8 (economic growth and job creation, with which the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is committed.
European funding
The drafting of the platform construction project for the Palencia Alar del Rey High-Speed Line can be co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).