SPAIN: The government of Catalunya and railway operator Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya have called tenders to undertake studies for four tram-train networks which would have a combined length of around 280 km.
The four planned schemes are: Terres de l’Ebre, a 41 km, two-line network where one line would run from Roquetes to Tortosa and l’Aldea station on the main line between Barcelona and València, the other from l’Aldea to Amposta, la Ràpita and Alcanar. Services would operate at 15 min headways. The budgeted cost of the nine-month viability study is €122 100.
Bages municipality and Berga: an update to a 2009 study into the use of the existing FGC freight-only branches from Manresa to Sallent and to Súria, with the extension of the Súria branch to Berga. The total network length would be about 38 km, with a new stretch of urban tramway in Manresa to Sant Joan de Vilatorrada. The cost of the nine-month viability study is budgeted at €75 800.
Costa Brava: the two principal lines would run from Girona airport to the coast and, reviving a long-lost metre gauge line, from Girona to Olot with a stretch of urban tramway in Girona to Sarrià de Ter, the line also serving Santa Eugènia, Fontajau and Montilivi. The entire network would be around 144 km long. The cost of the 12-month viability study is budgeted at €431 700.
Andorran link: a proposed 57 km line would run from Andorra to La Seu d’Urgell, and thence ascend the upper valley of the Segre to Alp station on the Toulouse to Puigcerdà and Barcelona line. The cost of the nine-month viability study is budgeted at €171 000.
Last year the government of Andora published a study proposing the construction of a light rail line from Sant Julià de Lòria to Escaldes-Engordany, with three connecting cable car links to the airport, La Massana and Encamp. The concept of a railway to La Seu d’Urgell has many years of history.
