Adif is adapting the Castellbisbal railway junction to standard gauge, a project that began on June 24 and is expected to last until September 12. This work is part of a broader effort to enhance the Mediterranean Corridor, a key route for freight and passenger trains connecting Spain with the rest of Europe.
Castellbisbal Junction: An overview
The Castellbisbal junction, a critical node in the Mediterranean Corridor, is undergoing significant upgrades. The current phase focuses on the northern end of Castellbisbal station, affecting connections to Mollet and Barcelona via Molins de Rei and the Port of Barcelona through Can Tunis. The project, now 55% complete, includes renewing tracks, installing new track equipment, and upgrading electrification and signalling systems.
Specifically, the work involves the renewal of 8.1 km of track, replacement of 13,600 sleepers, and installation of 15,000 m³ of ballast. Additionally, 23 mixed-type track switches and one wire changer are being installed, alongside the electrification system, which includes 300 new poles and 8.5 km of catenary.
These improvements are expected to enhance the capacity and reliability of the infrastructure, providing greater flexibility for both passenger and freight services. However, due to the complexity of the project, train traffic on the Castellbisbal-Molins section has been suspended to expedite the work and minimize impact on passenger mobility.
Valencia's rail network improvement
Simultaneously, Adif is advancing the connection between Valencia and the Mediterranean Corridor. The work at Valencia-La Font de Sant Lluís involves installing standard gauge tracks and adapting the track layout to the city's Access Canal. Scheduled to continue until September 7, this phase includes adapting the catenary system and installing six new track switches.
The project also involves significant track and electrification work aimed at implementing mixed gauge on the main and side tracks. This will enhance the capacity and reliability for both passenger and freight traffic, enabling interoperable standard gauge trains to operate on the network.
A new platform is being constructed to divert trains accessing València Nord and València Joaquín Sorolla, creating space for the next phase of the Access Channel works. Once completed, these upgrades will provide more tracks for both conventional and standard gauge trains, facilitating freight transit to and from Europe.
