Commercial services on the 131 km high-speed connection between Barcelona and Figueres, which completes the 804 km high-speed line between Madrid-Barcelona and the French border, began on January 9. The investment amounts to over 3,700 million euros.
(31/01/2013) The new line, which provides a high-speed connection between the four provincial capitals of Catalonia and the centre and south of the peninsula, also becomes one of the main links between Spain and Europe, while being part of the so-called Mediterranean Railway Corridor.
The section will allow connection with France in April, once direct high-speed passenger services between Barcelona and Paris are launched.
With the completion of this high-speed section comes the commissioning of an over 1,200 km corridor between Figueres and Málaga that links the northeastern and southern parts of the country. This leaves Spain second only to China in the size of its high-speed rail network, with 3,000 kilometres in service. With this extension there are 29 high-speed stations in Spain which serve about the 57.7% of the Spanish population.
Characteristics of the section
The new section covers 131 kilometres of double track UIC gauge and is electrified at 25kV. The line is equipped with the most advanced signalling and communications systems like ERTMS and GSMR. Adapted to the most demanding high speed parameters, trains are able to reach speeds of 300 km/h and are suitable for both passenger and freight services.
The line’s route, starting at Barcelona Sants station and ending at the connection with the Figueres-Perpignan international section, runs through the provinces of Barcelona and Girona. Outstanding features of the infrastructure include 30 tunnels, which total 34.3 km, and 60 viaducts, with a total length of 12.6 km.
Stations
The project also includes renovation work at two stations, Barcelona Sants and Figueres, which has been enlarged, and the construction of the new Girona station.
In order to minimise the new high-speed line's impact, other integration measures have been taken, such as constructing 69 acoustic screens with a total length of 18.1 km.
A significant part of the Barcelona-Figueres route passes through areas of great environmental value, such as the Montseny and Montnegre-Corredor nature reserves. In order to ensure permeability for crossing fauna, three specific crossings have been built on the Sant Celoni-Riells stretch and one wildlife crossing on the Riells-Massanes stretch.
Other significant actions include building overpasses, such as two gangways in the Vilafant municipality, river channelling and urban restoration operations in cities, including landscaping and tree planting.
http://www.eurotech.com/en/
Eurotech Receives 1.2M Euro Order for
Railway Application
Amaro
(Italy) – January 28, 2013 – Eurotech, a leading supplier of embedded technologies, products
and systems, today announces they have received an order for 1.2M Euro to
supply on-board equipment for railway application to Alstom Italy. Deliveries
will take place over a period of two to three years.
“Eurotech has a long tradition in providing
embedded platforms for railway applications”, said Domenico Bondì, Sales
Director for Central and Southern Europe. “Our expertise in mobile devices for harsh
environments makes our offering an excellent fit in the transportation vertical
market.”
Rail franchising programme revised
31 January 2013
UK: Following the publication of Eurostar Chairman Richard Brown's independent review of the Department for Transport's franchising programme earlier in the month, on January 31 the government announced its plans to restart three passenger franchise tendering competitions.
World Heritage & Railway News
..takes a look at nrm.org.uk - Enjoy nine fantastic days of toys, models and rides. Get hands on in our play areas and workshops and enjoy rides of all shapes and sizes*. You can see a wide range of family friendly model layouts...
Read about Norfolk Southern's $2bn 2013 investment programme....
HS2 - Phase 2
The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, has announced his initial preferences for the line of route for HS2 Phase Two. Find out all about Phase Two on this website at http://www.hs2.org.uk/phase-two
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