UNDER the final version of the PEIT strategic infrastructure plan for 2005-20, approved by the cabinet on July 15, the Spanish government is to launch studies to define in detail a programme of works to convert the 1668mm gauge network to 1435mm gauge to achieve compatibility with the rest of the European rail network.
With particular regard to freight traffic, the aim will be to maintain the full capability of the conventional network ’through an ordered programme of works and making the best use of the various technologies and systems for gauge-changing’.
This programme would be undertaken in parallel with the creation of a 9000 km ’high performance’ network of 1435mm gauge high speed routes for freight and passenger traffic. Noting that such routes are already in service elsewhere, particularly in Germany, PEIT says that designing routes for both freight and passenger traffic would allow future segregation if traffic levels required it, whereas modifying routes to accommodate mixed traffic ’would be practically impossible unless very high costs were incurred’.
Compared with initial proposals (RG 2.05 p61), spending on high speed routes in the final version of PEIT has been increased by €5·35bn to €83·45bn. Of the PEIT grand total of €248·89bn, rail spending in 2005-20 will now account for €108·76bn (right). A total of €32·53bn has been allocated to urban transport, including €10·05bn for suburban rail where new rolling stock is a specific priority.
The government expects that 20% of the PEIT budget will be provided by the private sector, channelled through a new state infrastructure company that is being set up with €500m of government funding. Going forward, 60% of PEIT spending will be met from the public purse and 20% provided by state-owned bodies reporting to the Ministry of Development such as railway infrastructure authority ADIF and Renfe.
- The ADIF board has approved an official statement of the capability of the national network, establishing current capacity as well as the access charging regime applying to each route and safety requirements. Once published by the Ministry of Development, the document will be available to companies bidding for paths.
TABLE: PEIT rail spending 2005-20, km*
High performance network 83450
Maintenance and upgrading of conventional network 18000
Level crossing elimination and upgrading 3560
Rolling stock 3750
Total 108760
* Excluding urban transport, where €10·05bn has been allocated to suburban rail, including rolling stock
