SPAIN: The Ministry of Development announced on April 26 the start of tendering for two PPP contracts to complete the 450 km high speed line between Madrid and Badajoz in Extremadura.
The winning bidders would part-finance work with a combined estimated cost of €3·83bn, including maintenance over a period of 25 years, forming a special-purpose vehicle with infrastructure manager ADIF to execute the project.
The first contract covers civil works and maintenance on the 139·6 km between Pantoja on the Madrid - Sevilla high speed line and Oropesa. Tracklaying, electrification, signalling, telecommunications and other railway equipment will be let in a second package covering the entire route between Pantoja and Badajoz.
According to the ministry, civil works and tracklaying are expected to cost up to €1·78bn, while the budget for other railway works is €2·05bn. Of these totals, 40% would be provided by ADIF during the construction phase, with the remainder raised through long-term debt. Availability payments would be made over 25 years.
