THE SPANISH Ministry of Development has given its approval for tenders to be called for three contracts to undertake civil works on 8·9 km of the Madrid - Barcelona high speed line on the western approach to Barcelona.
A budget of €316·4m has been set for the works, comprising Sant Joan Despí - Sant Boi de Llobregat (4·1 km), Hospitalet - La Torrassa (2·7 km) and La Torrasa - Sants (2·1 km), the latter including a 1·8 km tunnel and the remodelling of existing infrastructure over 1·3 km.
To accommodate regional and long distance services diverted from Sants during construction work, the Estació de França terminus is to be remodelled as part of a €8·47m programme on the eastern side of the city. This also includes increasing capacity for stabling and maintaining gauge-changing rolling stock at Sant Andreu Comtal, and the construction of a new facility for suburban trains at Montcada Bifurcació.
- Within a budget of €32·4m, bids have been invited for resignalling the 65 km Sagrera - Maçanet-Massanes section of the main line between Barcelona and the French border. The contract includes the installation of electronic block for reversible working and the replacement of the oldest interlockings.
