photo: Adif/Adif and Adif AV Finalise the Stages Before the Entry Into Service of the New Conventional Gauge Xativa-Nudo de La Encina Route
Adif and Adif Alta Velocidad (Adif AV) continue to progress in the preliminary stages for the commissioning of the new conventional gauge route between Xàtiva and Nudo de La Encina, the key action for the Mediterranean Corridor and the future high-speed connection between Valencia and Alicante.
Yesterday, Wednesday, the reliability tests of the new infrastructures and facilities on this 45-km route were carried out satisfactorily on board a 447 series commercial train, completing 10 runs (5 in each direction).
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The commissioning process will continue with the training of train drivers and the Spanish Railway Safety Agency (AESF) obtaining the authorisations to start operating the train.
High-speed adaptation of the Xàtiva-Nudo de La Encina line
The new conventional gauge route between Xàtiva and La Encina Junction is a key element in the development of the Mediterranean Corridor to connect the southeast of the peninsula with the northeast and the rest of the continent.
Once in service -after an investment of 413 million euros, Adif will undertake the adaptation to the high speed of the Xàtiva-Nudo de La Encina railway line (45 km), on double track, for the standard gauge connection of the three capitals of the Valencian Community. The investment of this project amounts to 187 million euros, of which Adif and Adif AV have already awarded four contracts worth 80 million euros.
Strategic project for the connection with Europe
The Mediterranean Corridor is a strategic project, destined to become a preferential route for Spain's connections with Europe. In this sense, the trans-European corridors, such as the Mediterranean, go beyond the infrastructure as their potential lies in their transversality and they require a definition of a logistics development strategy, where the ports are another major player, as well as the airports, private terminals and the industrial and business fabric, the driving force behind economic activity.
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They are also projects with the backing of a European strategy aimed at the transformative projects' development, which will enable progress to be made towards more sustainable, resilient and competitive economies. In this sense, the Mediterranean Corridor has European funding for its development, both from the Structural Funds and more than 3,000 million euros from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. It is financed by the European Union-NextGeneration-EU.
The Corridor will contribute to the structuring of the territory by linking Andalusia, the Region of Murcia, the Valencia Region and Catalonia with Europe at the standard gauge. It will also promote fully interoperable and more sustainable mobility and greater competitiveness for companies in the Mediterranean Arc and its area of influence, boosting the transport of goods by rail and avoiding the break-up of freight at the border by providing a continuous corridor on the international gauge.
The execution of the Mediterranean Corridor has become a lever for economic recovery and return on investment, estimating that for every euro invested in the execution of this infrastructure, a return of 3.5 euros will be recorded. Furthermore, its development will lead to a 2.2% increase in the country's GDP until 2030 and promote job creation. It is also estimated that more than 4 million citizens, plus a growing number of potential tourists, will be able to connect to the European network through Valencia and Barcelona.
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The project has also become a tool in the fight against climate change. Its contribution to the decarbonisation of transport and the reduction of the carbon footprint means a reduction of up to 5.5 million tonnes/year of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Source: Adif AV Press Releases