€10bn rail spend for 2010
SPAIN: Investment in new rolling stock as well as the infrastructure of the national network is set to total €10·2bn next year, according to the Ministry of Development's draft budget.
Appearing before a parliamentary committee on October 6, Secretary of State for Transport Concepción Gutiérrez said the ministry was planning to spend a record total of €20bn in 2010 with the twin aims of providing an economic stimulus and promoting sustainable development.
Investment in rail infrastructure totals €8·9m, with 71% earmarked for the high speed network which is due to grow by 513 km in 2010. Routes from Madrid to north and northwestern Spain, including the Basque Y, are to receive €2·15bn, while €1·8bn has been allocated to the route to Valencia, Alicante and Murcia . 2010 should see the opening of the Madrid - Cuenca - Valencia route, which according to Development Minister José Blanco will reduce CO2 emissions by 80 000 tonnes a year.
RENFE's €1·3bn rolling stock investment programme for 2010 makes provision for equipping the new route, as well as bringing into service 115 trainsets for suburban and medium-distance services. Under a programme to acquire 100 locomotives for the freight business in 2009-10, a total of 55 are due to be put into service next year
From 2010 high speed services to Valencia will terminate at a temporary facility now nearing completion. Comprehensive remodelling of the rail network includes construction of a station beneath the existing terminus, with two 1 435 mm and four 1668 mm gauge tracks on a new north-south through route under the city.
Railway Gazette
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
High Speed Trains in Spain - Part Three
Construction and current development
Northeastern Corridor - to the French Border
Main article: LGV Perpignan-Figueres
Construction is currently underway to connect the new high speed line from Barcelona to the French TGV network via the Perthus tunnel under the Pyrenees. As of April 2009the AVE network ends at Barcelona, and the TGV at Montpellier.
The line from Barcelona to Figueres is scheduled to open in 2012, as well as line from Figueres to Perpignan in the same year. France has yet to commit to the construction of the section between Perpignan and Montpellier. As a result trains will use the existing regular railway line north of Perpignan to reach the TGV Network at Montpellier.
The line will be operated by Talgo and Siemens AG train sets, although it will require special dual-voltage trainsets. The French line Perpignan – Montpellier is electrified at 1.5 kV DC, but Spanish trains use 25 kV AC. French trains are dual-voltage allowing both TGV and regional trains to operate on the line. All Spanish trains are single-voltage.
North-Northwestern Corridors
Bilbao-Vitoria-San Sebastian (Basque Y). This line will connect the three Basque capitals in 2011. Planned connection with Madrid via Valladolid, and with the French border via Irún and Bayonne.
Madrid-Pamplona. It will be operational in 2012. There is a planned extension to connect Pamplona with the Basque line and the French border.
Variante de Pajares. This line will cross a very mountainous area between León and Asturias. Planned extension to connect Valladolid with Oviedo and Gijón.
Eje Atlántico de Alta Velocidad (Atlantic line). This line will connect all Galician coastal cities, including A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela and Vigo, with the Portuguese border, and eventually, with Porto.
Ourense-Santiago de Compostela. First segment of the line that will connect Galicia and the Atlantic line with Madrid, via Valladolid.
Southwest - Portuguese Corridor
Cáceres-Mérida-Badajoz-Lisbon. This line will connect the two peninsular capitals in 2 hours and 45 minutes[6], connecting the south west region of Extremadura to the High Speed network. This line has been an important matter in bilateral summits during the last years. Spanish track should be completed around 2013 and the Portuguese one around 2015. It is not clear if there will finally be a station in the Spanish town of Mérida. The line would link with High-speed rail in Portugal, a project announced by the Portuguese government in February 2009.
Eastern Corridor
Madrid-Cuenca-Albacete-Arco mediterráneo (Mediterranean Arc). This line will connect Madrid with Valencia, Alicante, Murcia and Almería. Expected 2009.
Future planned lines
In the short term other connections to the LGV are planned. A new line to France is under construction at La Jonquera in Catalonia with another proposed at Irun in the Basque Country. Other new lines are under consideration, including a line connecting Soria to the Madrid-Barcelona line at Calatayud. Finally, the Madrid-Barcelona line currently terminates in Barcelona's Estació de Sants, there has, however, been talk of a new station being built on the other side of the city in La Sagrera.
In the long term the Spanish government has an ambitious plan to make 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi) of high-speed railway operational by 2010, with all provincial capitals at most only 4 hours from Madrid, and 6½ hours from Barcelona. According to the Strategic Plan for railway infrastructures developed by the Spanish Ministerio de Fomento Ministry of Public Works, called PEIT, a second expansion programme is planned to start in 2010-11, when the last lines of the first programme still under construction begin operation. This plan has a ten-year scope, ending 2020, and its ambition is to make the 300 km/h (186 mph) network reach 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) by the end of that year. This would be the most extensive network in Europe, with several operational links with France and Portugal and is by far the most ambitious high speed rail plan in the European Union.
Critics of this scheme point out that raising the average speed of Spain's regional trains would achieve a much greater global impact at much less cost. At present, there are some rural lines where average speeds barely exceed 60 km/h (37 mph). The speed between some provincial capitals is little better; for example, it takes some 8 hours to cover the 784 kilometres (487 mi) between León and Barcelona.
On the other hand there has been a great improvement of speed and time with trains that link Madrid with other capitals that do not have direct AVE connections, but that use the high speed line for most of the route, such as:
Huelva (4 h 16 min)
Cádiz (4 h 30 min)
Algeciras (5 h 25 min)
Granada (4 h 36 min)
Pamplona (2 h 59 min)
Logroño (3 h 40 min)
Irún (5 h 19 min)
Bilbao (4 h 46 min)
San Sebastián (5 h 20 min)
Santander (4 h 25 min)
Vitoria-Gasteiz (3 h 48 min)
Northeastern Corridor - to the French Border
Main article: LGV Perpignan-Figueres
Construction is currently underway to connect the new high speed line from Barcelona to the French TGV network via the Perthus tunnel under the Pyrenees. As of April 2009the AVE network ends at Barcelona, and the TGV at Montpellier.
The line from Barcelona to Figueres is scheduled to open in 2012, as well as line from Figueres to Perpignan in the same year. France has yet to commit to the construction of the section between Perpignan and Montpellier. As a result trains will use the existing regular railway line north of Perpignan to reach the TGV Network at Montpellier.
The line will be operated by Talgo and Siemens AG train sets, although it will require special dual-voltage trainsets. The French line Perpignan – Montpellier is electrified at 1.5 kV DC, but Spanish trains use 25 kV AC. French trains are dual-voltage allowing both TGV and regional trains to operate on the line. All Spanish trains are single-voltage.
North-Northwestern Corridors
Bilbao-Vitoria-San Sebastian (Basque Y). This line will connect the three Basque capitals in 2011. Planned connection with Madrid via Valladolid, and with the French border via Irún and Bayonne.
Madrid-Pamplona. It will be operational in 2012. There is a planned extension to connect Pamplona with the Basque line and the French border.
Variante de Pajares. This line will cross a very mountainous area between León and Asturias. Planned extension to connect Valladolid with Oviedo and Gijón.
Eje Atlántico de Alta Velocidad (Atlantic line). This line will connect all Galician coastal cities, including A Coruña, Santiago de Compostela and Vigo, with the Portuguese border, and eventually, with Porto.
Ourense-Santiago de Compostela. First segment of the line that will connect Galicia and the Atlantic line with Madrid, via Valladolid.
Southwest - Portuguese Corridor
Cáceres-Mérida-Badajoz-Lisbon. This line will connect the two peninsular capitals in 2 hours and 45 minutes[6], connecting the south west region of Extremadura to the High Speed network. This line has been an important matter in bilateral summits during the last years. Spanish track should be completed around 2013 and the Portuguese one around 2015. It is not clear if there will finally be a station in the Spanish town of Mérida. The line would link with High-speed rail in Portugal, a project announced by the Portuguese government in February 2009.
Eastern Corridor
Madrid-Cuenca-Albacete-Arco mediterráneo (Mediterranean Arc). This line will connect Madrid with Valencia, Alicante, Murcia and Almería. Expected 2009.
Future planned lines
In the short term other connections to the LGV are planned. A new line to France is under construction at La Jonquera in Catalonia with another proposed at Irun in the Basque Country. Other new lines are under consideration, including a line connecting Soria to the Madrid-Barcelona line at Calatayud. Finally, the Madrid-Barcelona line currently terminates in Barcelona's Estació de Sants, there has, however, been talk of a new station being built on the other side of the city in La Sagrera.
In the long term the Spanish government has an ambitious plan to make 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi) of high-speed railway operational by 2010, with all provincial capitals at most only 4 hours from Madrid, and 6½ hours from Barcelona. According to the Strategic Plan for railway infrastructures developed by the Spanish Ministerio de Fomento Ministry of Public Works, called PEIT, a second expansion programme is planned to start in 2010-11, when the last lines of the first programme still under construction begin operation. This plan has a ten-year scope, ending 2020, and its ambition is to make the 300 km/h (186 mph) network reach 10,000 kilometres (6,200 mi) by the end of that year. This would be the most extensive network in Europe, with several operational links with France and Portugal and is by far the most ambitious high speed rail plan in the European Union.
Critics of this scheme point out that raising the average speed of Spain's regional trains would achieve a much greater global impact at much less cost. At present, there are some rural lines where average speeds barely exceed 60 km/h (37 mph). The speed between some provincial capitals is little better; for example, it takes some 8 hours to cover the 784 kilometres (487 mi) between León and Barcelona.
On the other hand there has been a great improvement of speed and time with trains that link Madrid with other capitals that do not have direct AVE connections, but that use the high speed line for most of the route, such as:
Huelva (4 h 16 min)
Cádiz (4 h 30 min)
Algeciras (5 h 25 min)
Granada (4 h 36 min)
Pamplona (2 h 59 min)
Logroño (3 h 40 min)
Irún (5 h 19 min)
Bilbao (4 h 46 min)
San Sebastián (5 h 20 min)
Santander (4 h 25 min)
Vitoria-Gasteiz (3 h 48 min)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Work Starts on AVE Line to Algerciras
Work Starts on AVE Line to Algerciras
Early exploratory work as begun on the planned tunnel for the new AVE rail line near Ronda. Renfe has confirmed that the existing line between Bobadilla and Algerciras will be closed for six months from early November and that the work is not just for important maintenance, but to prepare the line for high speed trains. A bus service will run alone the route of the existing line, including Ronda, Gaucin and Cortes de la Frontera whilst the line is closed.
Early exploratory work as begun on the planned tunnel for the new AVE rail line near Ronda. Renfe has confirmed that the existing line between Bobadilla and Algerciras will be closed for six months from early November and that the work is not just for important maintenance, but to prepare the line for high speed trains. A bus service will run alone the route of the existing line, including Ronda, Gaucin and Cortes de la Frontera whilst the line is closed.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
High Speed Trains In Spain - Part Two
AVANT – Media Distancia
In December 2004 a new medium distance service (AV Media Distancia operating under the 'Lanzadera' brand) began between Seville and Córdoba using new S-104 trains,reducing journey times between the two cities to 40 minutes. In 2005 the brand was renamed RENFE Avant and a further service was launched: Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
The construction of a 21-kilometre (13 mi) stretch of high speed line from Madrid to Toledo allowed the inauguration of a medium distance service in November 2005. The journey time between the two cities is now less than 30 minutes. The high speed link combined with high property prices in Madrid has encouraged many Madrid commuters to settle in Ciudad Real, the first stop on the Madrid–Seville line.
There has, however, been controversy over the construction of this line as the change to standard gauge track meant that large towns such as Getafe, Aranjuez and Algodor, which now has no commercial services, lost their direct services to Toledo. Furthermore since Toledo is now connected by standard gauge track it is impossible for other passenger or goods trains to reach it that haven't come from other high speed lines.
Further Avant services have been launched with the expansion of the AVE to Valladolid and Barcelona. See below for details of all Avant services.
Madrid–Barcelona
The Madrid–Zaragoza–Barcelona line was inaugurated on 20 February 2008, after parts of the line had operated since 2003 (Madrid–Zaragoza–Lleida) and 2006 (Lleida–Tarragona). Seventeen trains run now every day between 6:00 and 21:00 hrs. This line is currently one of the world's fastest long-distance trains in commercial operation,[4] with non stop trains covering the 621 km (386 mi) between the two cities in just 2 hours 38 minutes, and those stopping at all stations in 3 hours 23 minutes.
Madrid–Valladolid
The Madrid–Segovia–Valladolid line was inaugurated on December 22, 2007. It Includes a tunnel of 28 kilometres (17 mi) at Guadarrama, which is the fourth longest train tunnel in Europe. Valladolid will become the hub for all AVE lines connecting the north and the north west of Spain with the rest of the country. Trainsets used on this line include S120 (max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)), Talgo S130 (Patito, max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)) and the S102 (Pato, max speed 320 km/h/199 mph).
Trains
Currently, there are several series of High speed trains that run the AVE service:
S/100, manufactured by Alstom
S/102, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier
S/103, manufactured by Siemens, marketed globally under the brand Siemens Velaro
There are also other series of trains that are considered high speed, but don't run under the AVE name. They run under the brand Alvia, and are variable gauge trains. They can run on High speed lines at a maximum of 250 km/h (155 mph), and can also change between standard and Iberian gauge lines without stopping. The trains that are operated under the Alvia brand are:
S/120, manufactured by CAF and Alstom
S/130, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier
Operational services
Currently the Spanish high speed network is made up of the following services:
AVE Madrid–Seville via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, and Córdoba.
AVE Madrid–Valladolid via Segovia.
AVE Madrid–Barcelona via Guadalajara, Calatayud, Zaragoza, Lleida and Tarragona.
AVE Barcelona–Seville via Zaragoza, Córdoba and Madrid.
AVE Barcelona–Málaga via Zaragoza, Córdoba and Madrid.
AVE Madrid–Huesca via Guadalajara, Calatayud, and Zaragoza.
AVE Madrid–Málaga via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, Córdoba, and Antequera.
AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Toledo.
AVANT (mid distance) Málaga–Córdoba–Seville via Antequera and Puente Genil
AVANT (mid distance) Segovia–Madrid.
AVANT (mid distance) Calatayud–Zaragoza
AVANT (mid distance) Zaragoza–Huesca
AVANT (mid distance) Barcelona–Lleida
ALVIA [5] (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Irún, via Valladolid, Burgos and San Sebastián.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Bilbao, via Valladolid and Burgos.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Santander–Alicante, via Madrid and Valladolid.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Gijón–Alicante, via Valladolid and Madrid.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Logroño.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Irún, via Zaragoza, Pamplona and San Sebastián.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Bilbao, via Zaragoza and Logroño.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Vigo, via Zaragoza, Pamplona, Vitoria, Burgos, Palencia and Leon. With connection services to Gijón in Leon and to A Coruña in Monforte de Lemos
The central hub of the AVE system is Madrid's Puerta de Atocha, except for the Valladolid line, which terminates at Chamartin Station.
In December 2004 a new medium distance service (AV Media Distancia operating under the 'Lanzadera' brand) began between Seville and Córdoba using new S-104 trains,reducing journey times between the two cities to 40 minutes. In 2005 the brand was renamed RENFE Avant and a further service was launched: Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
The construction of a 21-kilometre (13 mi) stretch of high speed line from Madrid to Toledo allowed the inauguration of a medium distance service in November 2005. The journey time between the two cities is now less than 30 minutes. The high speed link combined with high property prices in Madrid has encouraged many Madrid commuters to settle in Ciudad Real, the first stop on the Madrid–Seville line.
There has, however, been controversy over the construction of this line as the change to standard gauge track meant that large towns such as Getafe, Aranjuez and Algodor, which now has no commercial services, lost their direct services to Toledo. Furthermore since Toledo is now connected by standard gauge track it is impossible for other passenger or goods trains to reach it that haven't come from other high speed lines.
Further Avant services have been launched with the expansion of the AVE to Valladolid and Barcelona. See below for details of all Avant services.
Madrid–Barcelona
The Madrid–Zaragoza–Barcelona line was inaugurated on 20 February 2008, after parts of the line had operated since 2003 (Madrid–Zaragoza–Lleida) and 2006 (Lleida–Tarragona). Seventeen trains run now every day between 6:00 and 21:00 hrs. This line is currently one of the world's fastest long-distance trains in commercial operation,[4] with non stop trains covering the 621 km (386 mi) between the two cities in just 2 hours 38 minutes, and those stopping at all stations in 3 hours 23 minutes.
Madrid–Valladolid
The Madrid–Segovia–Valladolid line was inaugurated on December 22, 2007. It Includes a tunnel of 28 kilometres (17 mi) at Guadarrama, which is the fourth longest train tunnel in Europe. Valladolid will become the hub for all AVE lines connecting the north and the north west of Spain with the rest of the country. Trainsets used on this line include S120 (max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)), Talgo S130 (Patito, max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)) and the S102 (Pato, max speed 320 km/h/199 mph).
Trains
Currently, there are several series of High speed trains that run the AVE service:
S/100, manufactured by Alstom
S/102, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier
S/103, manufactured by Siemens, marketed globally under the brand Siemens Velaro
There are also other series of trains that are considered high speed, but don't run under the AVE name. They run under the brand Alvia, and are variable gauge trains. They can run on High speed lines at a maximum of 250 km/h (155 mph), and can also change between standard and Iberian gauge lines without stopping. The trains that are operated under the Alvia brand are:
S/120, manufactured by CAF and Alstom
S/130, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier
Operational services
Currently the Spanish high speed network is made up of the following services:
AVE Madrid–Seville via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, and Córdoba.
AVE Madrid–Valladolid via Segovia.
AVE Madrid–Barcelona via Guadalajara, Calatayud, Zaragoza, Lleida and Tarragona.
AVE Barcelona–Seville via Zaragoza, Córdoba and Madrid.
AVE Barcelona–Málaga via Zaragoza, Córdoba and Madrid.
AVE Madrid–Huesca via Guadalajara, Calatayud, and Zaragoza.
AVE Madrid–Málaga via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, Córdoba, and Antequera.
AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Toledo.
AVANT (mid distance) Málaga–Córdoba–Seville via Antequera and Puente Genil
AVANT (mid distance) Segovia–Madrid.
AVANT (mid distance) Calatayud–Zaragoza
AVANT (mid distance) Zaragoza–Huesca
AVANT (mid distance) Barcelona–Lleida
ALVIA [5] (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Irún, via Valladolid, Burgos and San Sebastián.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Bilbao, via Valladolid and Burgos.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Santander–Alicante, via Madrid and Valladolid.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Gijón–Alicante, via Valladolid and Madrid.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Logroño.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Irún, via Zaragoza, Pamplona and San Sebastián.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Bilbao, via Zaragoza and Logroño.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Vigo, via Zaragoza, Pamplona, Vitoria, Burgos, Palencia and Leon. With connection services to Gijón in Leon and to A Coruña in Monforte de Lemos
The central hub of the AVE system is Madrid's Puerta de Atocha, except for the Valladolid line, which terminates at Chamartin Station.
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