The “comprehensive renovation” of the Madrid-Andalucía high-speed rail link that Transport Minister Óscar Puente According to the recent statements of the minister, who has already declared that the project is complete, there’s still more work than you might think.

The project budget is estimated at 780 million Euros, and 89 contracts are involved. Remember that the rail link was opened in 1992 for a total cost of 2.7bn euros.

Puente, who appeared before the Congress of Deputies on 4 September, defended this link even before the tragedy that occurred in the Sierra Morena Mountains on 18 January. Project completed The 750-million euro cost is claimed to have caused minimal disruptions in rail service.

The same message has been repeated in the crucial moments that followed the tragedy. Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, in his appearance before the Congress of Deputies, alluded to the ‘complete renovation’ of the railway line to Andalucía, emphatically stating that point.

His own government, however, has detailed a number of projects that are still in progress and others have not even begun on this nearly 500 kilometre line. This has shrouded it in uncertainty and distrust among users (not to mention that there is still no date for the reopening).

The Ministry of Transport has admitted that these improvements are not yet complete in its response to a group of senators. Seven Projects that need to be completed by 2026 include the well-known strengthening of infrastructure (platform, tunnels and structure) along the so-called “southern railway corridor”, as well as the installation of turnouts and up to 124,000 sleeping beds, amongst other major interventions. It’s not as simple as ‘complete’.

Initial statements by the Ministry of Transport stated that “more than 94%” of the project had been completed, or was in the process. Advanced stage of completion “. “.

The Ministry of Transport’s claim that all projects will be completed in 2025 is not true. Renewal of the overhead contact lines “with the replacements of some of its component”. Minister Puente said that the practice is to perform a partial overhaul of the rail infrastructure, rather than a complete overhaul. Included in the project is the replacement with LED lights of the lighting in 17 tunnels and the installation of better performing, newer equipment. track circuits . Those monitors check the presence of trains in different sections of the line, and this is exactly what the Alvia accident has called into question, as it took 45 minutes or more for the rescue services to respond. The ministry also adds that installation of noise barriers The project involves the replacement of the data network, electronic interlocking system and several sections (34 screens in eight locations).

In its response, which ABC was able to access, the Ministry points out at this point that the The entire line infrastructure needs to be reinforced The construction of (tunnels) and other infrastructures (viaducts, drainage, retaining walls etc.) has not yet been completed. It estimates that an Average completion rate of 86% The four contracts that make up the project are divided into. It is the same as the four sections that make up the 470-kilometre route between Madrid and Seville, where two of them have been completed at over 90%. It is the biggest project in terms of spending and scope on the entire route.

The implementation of the ERTMS The first phase of the “most advanced signalling system in the world” is now completed. It is the rail traffic management system in Europe. In addition, a mobile rail communication system (GSM R), and a fiber optic network have been installed for the line. The construction of the third high-speed line is another project. Puertollano The station at Ciudad Real and the new track layout.

The Spanish Government has extended the completion date of these important line upgrades related to critical elements such safety, durability Signalling and traffic infrastructure will be in place until 2026. This must be accompanied by significant superstructure works, such as installing 47 new turnouts (switches) and replacement of the much-touted 123,732 defective sleepers that were left unreplaced on a section Line of D between Cordoba and Seville (Almodóvar del Río and Guadajoz). You should remember that 34,000 of the defective sleepers on the Adamuz segment had not been changed.

The package includes also the renovation of the substations which serve the line. Video surveillance systemsYou can also find out more about the security of this website. Systems on the high-speed rail. They allow for monitoring, among other things. Theft of cable The issue is ongoing and has affected thousands of passengers.

The ministry’s clarification of the question asked by the senator group concluded that this work was compatible with maintaining the rail service, which is currently experiencing a low demand. However, it did not completely rule out the possibility that the speed could be reduced or traffic cut altogether.

The scale and volume of certain work may require extending the timeline. [night-time] Temporarily suspending traffic in one direction while maintaining the flow of traffic on the opposite line. Temporarily restricting speeds On certain stretches.”