Spanish railway news
News about railway, metro and tram infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in Spain, from Railway Gazette International.
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NewsRENFE postpones high speed train procurement
SPAIN: National operator RENFE has temporarily paused plans for the purchase of around 20 high speed trainsets in the aftermath of the recent fatal accident at Adamuz.
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NewsRail defects come under scrutiny as Spanish high speed crash investigations continue
SPAIN: Ongoing investigations into the high speed derailment and crash at Adamuz on January 18 have found further evidence pointing towards a rail break as being the primary cause of the tragedy. Chris Jackson reports.
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NewsBroken rail suspected in Spanish high speed crash
SPAIN: More than 40 people were killed and 120 injured when two high speed trains collided on the Madrid – Sevilla line near Córdoba on January 18.
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NewsBilbao metro Line 4 project approved
SPAIN: The construction of Metro de Bilbao Line 4 has been approved by the Basque government and Bizkaia provincial council.
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NewsRadar positioning system provides precise stopping without CBTC
SPAIN: Masats has tested of a radar positioning system which enables the highly accurate stopping of trains without relying on CBTC.
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NewsLyon – Bordeaux link leads SNCF’s Ouigo expansion drive
FRANCE: National operator SNCF has unveiled a further expansion of its Ouigo low-cost passenger operation, including a service linking Lyon with Bordeaux.
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NewsConstruction of Bilbao freight bypass to resume this year
SPAIN: Construction of a further 3·2 km section of the Bizkaia Southern Rail Bypass is to begin by the end of this year, the Basque regional authority has announced.
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NewsCAF demonstrates CBTC over private 5G network in Bilbao
SPAIN: CAF announced the succesful demonstration of its OPTIO communications-based train control system operating over a private 5G network at the RailLive! exhibition in Madrid on November 26.
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NewsFirst of 201 Alstom suburban EMUs on test in Spain
SPAIN: The first two of 201 Coradia high-capacity commuter trains that Alstom is supplying for RENFE are now being tested on the national network.
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NewsEIB approves loan for Madrid – Irún high speed project
SPAIN: The European Investment Bank has approved €1·7bn in co-financing to complete the final 93 km segment of the high speed line between Madrid and the French border at Irún/Hendaye.
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News‘Drones-in-a-box’ to inspect Spanish railways
SPAIN: Aviation safety body AESA has granted Ineco authorisation to use autonomous drones to inspect railway infrastructure.
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News350 km/h operation envisaged in Madrid – Barcelona high speed line enhancement study
SPAIN: Studies are to assess the viability of upgrading the Madrid – Barcelona high speed line to raise the maximum speed to 350 km/h and other works which would provide a journey time of under 2 h.
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NewsExtremadura high speed line contracts awarded
SPAIN: High speed line infrastructure manager ADIF Alta Velocidad has awarded three contracts for the 69 km Plasencia –Talayuela section of the Madrid – Extremadura high speed line project.
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NewsBarcelona airport train on test
SPAIN: Alstom is undertaking static and dynamic testing of the first of 10 electric multiple-units ordered by Catalunya regional train operator FGC for use on a future shuttle service from Barcelona city centre to El Prat Airport.
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NewsEU wants to see Madrid – Lisboa high speed rail link completed by 2034
EUROPE: The European Commission has announced a timeline for the completion of a high speed mixed-traffic railway linking Madrid and Lisboa.
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NewsBoluda Shipping acquires Transfesa’s intermodal activities
EUROPE: Boluda Shipping has entered the rail freight haulage market with the acquisition of DB Cargo subsidiary Transfesa’s intermodal transport activities in Spain and Portugal.
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NewsRENFE to replace Madrid – Barcelona Avlo service with more AVEs
SPAIN: RENFE has announced that its Avlo-branded low-cost services between Madrid and Barcelona are to be withdrawn indefinitely from September 8, as result of high speed trainsets experiencing rough riding on the route.
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NewsADIF awards €6m Spanish FRMCS pilot scheme contract
SPAIN: Infrastructure manager ADIF has awarded Sistemas & Montajes Industriales a €6m contract to support pilot testing of the Future Railway Mobile Communication System on a metre-gauge line.
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NewsValladolid-Campo Grande station to be remodelled
SPAIN: High speed infrastructure manager ADIF Alta Velocidad has awarded contracts for the remodelling and expansion of Valladolid-Campo Grande station to accommodate a predicted increase in passenger traffic.
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In depthSpain: International links are key to freight revival
Growing rail’s role in the Spanish logistics sector was the focus of UIP’s Wagon Keepers’ Summit in València. While the global trend for ‘nearshoring’ offers a huge opportunity, many speakers were frustrated at enduring problems in connecting Spain to the pan-European rail network. Nick Kingsley reports.
