The Spanish government has unveiled two major railway projects to boost Zaragoza's connections with the rest of Spain and France. These projects, focusing on the Zaragoza-Teruel-Sagunto and Zaragoza-Huesca-Canfranc lines, represent significant investments aimed at improving the competitiveness and capacity of the railway system, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and European integration.
The first project involves the modernization of the Zaragoza-Teruel-Sagunto line, deemed a strategic artery for connecting the Mediterranean with northern Spain. The Council of Ministers recently approved a tender for new works on the line, with a total investment of €37.8 million. This initiative is led by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, through Adif, the railway infrastructure manager.
Key interventions include the extension of the passing track at Cella station to 750 meters. This modification will allow longer trains to stop and pass, a crucial factor for optimizing freight transport, especially considering the station's connection to the Platea logistics platform. Additionally, Adif has awarded contracts for gauge adjustment and electrification of the Zaragoza-Sagunto line, with a total investment of €120 million.
These works involve adapting the dimensions of 19 tunnels and 45 overpasses, aiming to improve the line's safety and efficiency. Further improvements include €7.6 million for additional interventions and €1 million for the development of the Fuente de San Luis terminal at the port of Valencia, enhancing rail as a sustainable and competitive transport mode.
Simultaneously, the Spanish government is investing in the Zaragoza-Huesca-Canfranc line, a key infrastructure for connections between Spain and France across the Pyrenees. Adif has tendered a €38.4 million contract for improvement works on this line, bringing the total investment mobilized for this route to over €183 million.
One of the main goals of this project is to restore the cross-border connection between Bedous, France, and Canfranc, Spain. This will fully reactivate the historic trans-Pyrenean Pau-Zaragoza line, a crucial link to facilitate commercial and tourist exchanges between the two countries.
Another significant element is the rehabilitation plan for the international station of Canfranc, a historic Art Deco building. The government of Aragon has allocated €8 million to restore this structure, once the second-largest railway building in Europe, partially abandoned since the 1970s. Part of the station has recently been transformed into a luxury hotel, contributing to the area's revitalization.
