UNDER ITS PROGRAMME to convert the Huesca - Canfranc route to 1435mm gauge and electrify it at 25 kV AC for international freight traffic, the Spanish Ministry of Development has awarded the Sers consultancy a €508755 contract to design formation enhancement works on the 29·5 km from the end of a new alignnent avoiding Huesca (RG 3.03 p116) to Ayerbe.
Under a separate contract worth €546584, TRN will be responsible for the 36·3 km Ayerbe - Caldearenas-Aquilue section. Both contracts are expected to take 12 months to complete. The formation upgrade will include drainage improvements, removing level crossings and replacing structures in order to accommodate axleloads up to 22·5 tonnes.
