The Spanish manager of rail infrastructure Adif has released a tender for the civil works to complete the Mediterranean corridor in the Eastern region of Valencia. The line should be completed in 2022, connecting the port of Sagunto and Castellon.

This civil work has a total budget of 1.3 billion Euros, building the rail tracks and upgrading rail stations between Sagunto and Castellon to handle 750-metre length trains. Moreover, all the infrastructure will be electrified.

Shorter journey

This deadline is one year later than initially estimated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and it will complete the Mediterranean corridor rail network between Murcia and the border with France, with a total distance of 704 kilometres.

In addition, this civil work will enable the use of the new rail track in Vandellos (Tarragona), cutting time trip between Vandellos and Barcelona, both in the region of Catalonia, and between L’Alcudia and Moixent, both in the region of Valencia. The new track between Sagunto and Castellon will be developed by a joint venture between the Spanish company Acciona and the German Siemens.

Region

The regions of Valencia and Murcia are key Spanish agricultural growers and processors, especially of oranges, grapefruit, lemons, stone fruit, almonds and artichokes. In addition, Valencia maintains one of the main Spanish steel and ceramic tile factories, exporting via the ports of Sagunto and Valencia, very close each other, and Castellon.

Vandellos is a village but has an important role in the Spanish electricity system as it has two nuclear plants (Vandellos and Asco) close to the village.