Another step towards a dual gauge Medcor
posted on 30th Nov 2025 10:35
On 24 November 2025, Adif announced that it had started test runs over the stretch of dual gauge line between Castellbisbal and Martorell, in the Llobregat valley, northwest of Barcelona. This is an extension of the 1,435 mm gauge rail network into Catalunya, and is the start of the next dual-gauge section of the Mediterranean Corridor between the Barcelona area, València and Alacant, on which dual-gauging is now advancing steadily, with possible completion during 2027 as far as València.
Martorell is where SEAT has a large factory, so there is a possibility that this could generate a significant amount of automotive traffic over the 1,435 mm gauge international line to and from the rest of Europe.
Around 60 test runs, covering around 300 km, over the 12 route km of rebuilt railway were made using a Class 130 train during two nights, to ensure that train control and communications systems functioned correctly. On the 37 km of track, there are no fewer than 60 sets of points, and three locations where the third rail changes side. Rebuilding and reconfiguration required the use of over 6,000 tonnes of rails, 55,000 sleepers, and 80 km of flexible and 5 km of rigid catenary. In three of the four tunnels on the lines it was necessary to increase clearances. New signalling, interlockings and telecommunications also had to be installed.
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