Transport
New progress in the Valladolid - Burgos high speed line
12/02/2009
The Ministry of Public Works has awarded the platform works to build the sections Villazopeque - Estépar and Estépar - Variante Railway in Burgos. With the awarding of such works, measuring a total of 23 km and an investment of 116 million Euro, all the route between these cities in already under construction works.
Villazopeque - Estépar
Measuring 11.5 km in length, the subsection operates in Villazopeque, Villaquirán de los Infantes, Villaldemiro, Celada del Camino and Estépar, all of them located in the province of Burgos. The contract has been awarded at 35,806,217 Euro and the works have a time limit of 18 months to finish.
As to outstanding works two viaducts should be mentioned: one over the River Hormazueta, measuring 380 metres, and another one over the BU-P-4041, measuring 28 metres in length.
Estépar - Variante Railway in Burgos
The second section, 11.5 kilometres long, runs through the towns of Estépar, Cabia, Frandovinez, Buniel and San Mames de Burgos, all within the province of Burgos. The tender has been awarded at 80,334,148 Euro with a completion deadline of 28 months.
The section will include a tunnel 870 metres long and a viaduct measuring nearly 180 metres.
Features of the new high-speed line
The new high-speed line Valladolid - Burgos - Vitoria-Gasteiz is included in the high-performance network of the 2005-2020 Strategic Plan of Infrastructure and Transport (PEIT) of the Ministry of Public Works. And it is also part of the no. 3 Priority Project of the Railway Axis of the European Railway, connecting with the line Madrid - Valladolid - Vitoria-Gasteiz - French border.
The distance between Valladolid and Vitoria-Gasteiz will cut down by 13.5 km, which is from 244.8 km to 231.3 km including accesses to Valladolid and Vitoria-Gasteiz. What is more, safety measures will increase in the route by means of leading-edge technology in the trains' automatic control equipment, as well as removing level crossings throughout the whole route.
The line will consist of two electrified railways of international gauge, designed to speed up to 350 kph.
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- 07/07/2010: Cornerstone laid for the expansion of the tramway to La Casilla
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