Adif has awarded two contracts worth EUR 32.2 million as part of the Master Plan for the improvement of the Zaragoza-Teruel-Sagunto railway line. These investments aim to enhance rail freight capacity, infrastructure reliability, and overall operational efficiency.
One of the contracts covers the extension of track 2 at Cella station to 750 metres. Cella is a key location in the Teruel region due to its direct connection with the Platea logistics platform. The extension will enable the station to accommodate and facilitate the crossing of longer, interoperable freight trains, thereby improving the line’s capacity and competitiveness.
The project will involve modifications to the track layout, drainage systems, and safety and signalling infrastructure. This extension adds to similar upgrades already completed at seven other stations along the line—Estivella, Navajas, Barracas, La Puebla de Valverde, Teruel, Ferreruela de Huerva, and Cariñena—where 750-metre sidings are now operational. These works, funded by the Port Authority of Valencia, align with the Master Plan’s objective of strengthening freight transport along this key corridor between the Cantabrian and Mediterranean coasts.
The Sagunto-Bifurcación Teruel section
The second contract covers a series of infrastructure improvements on the Sagunto-Bifurcación Teruel section. These works are aimed at enhancing the functionality and reliability of the line and include:
- Rail renewals at various locations
- Ballast layer cleaning
- Installation of new sleepers in sidings at seven stations: Segorbe, Jérica, Caudiel, Masadas Blancas, Mora de Rubielos, Puerto Escandón, and Sarrión
- Replacement of metal structures at the Sagunto and Valencia branches
- Construction of a new retaining wall between Pontón de Gausa and the Sagunto viaduct
Additional improvements include drainage studies at 22 trenches along the route, construction of track corridors at three Teruel stations (La Puebla de Valverde, Ferreruela de Huerva, and Barracas), track switch renewals at six stations, and the installation of new metal buffer stops at Puerto Escandón and Masadas Blancas.
Master Plan for the Zaragoza-Teruel-Sagunto line
These new contracts form part of Adif’s broader Master Plan for the Zaragoza-Teruel-Sagunto line, a 315-kilometre corridor. Over EUR 500 million has already been invested to enhance its role as a strategic freight link between the Mediterranean, Cantabrian, and Atlantic regions, connecting the ports of Valencia and Bilbao with key logistics hubs such as Platea (Teruel), Zaragoza-Plaza, and Júndiz (Vitoria).
The plan aims to improve interoperability, increase capacity, and reduce journey times through upgraded infrastructure. Enhancements will also reduce maintenance needs and improve network resilience by incorporating modern, high-performance facilities.
A key focus of the investment is boosting freight traffic competitiveness by allowing higher axle loads and constructing sidings for 750-metre trains. Electrification of the line will further support sustainable mobility, cutting CO2 emissions by approximately 5,000 tonnes per year and reducing diesel consumption by 2.1 million litres annually.
These improvements align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), which promotes reliable, sustainable, and resilient transport networks.
This project may be co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), which supports key transport infrastructure investments across the continent.
Share on:
