📋 Tender Overview
The Council of Ministers at its meeting has authorized the Ministry of Transport Mobility and Urban Agenda Mitma to tender through Adif the works of adaptation to the international gauge or UIC of the Roda de Ber tunnel in the province of Tarragona with an investment of 15.1 million euros without VAT.The action represents a new impetus to the development of the Mediterranean Corridor by making the exploitation of this strategic axis more flexible enabling an itinerary through the interior in an area of great socioeconomic and industrial potential with which to promote the transport of goods by rail.The works will involve the extension of the tunnel to adapt it to the international gauge through the implementation of the third rail on both tracks which will allow the circulation of standard and Iberian gauge trains at speeds of up to 120 km h.Technical characteristics of the actionWith the planned works the dimensions of the current section will be increased by lowering the slope of the tunnel almost 422 m long to comply with the interoperability standards required by the third wire as well as other tunnels that make up the route of the Mediterranean Corridor in Catalonia such as those of Martorell or Castellbisbal.Inside the tunnel in addition to lowering the railway platform up to one meter the vault will be renewed and waterproofed the surface will be reinforced with concrete a new water drainage system will be installed and slab track new catenary will be mounted and security and communications facilities will be replaced.On the other hand on the outside of the tunnel the grade of the tracks will also be lowered slab track will also be installed in the adjacent sections ballast walls will be built and spill collection tanks and areas of auxiliary facilities will be executed. In the same way and derived from vibration studies the placement of anti-vibration blankets and acoustic screens is foreseen to mitigate the acoustic impact generated by railway circulations.This work contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal SDG 9 which promotes reliable sustainable and quality infrastructure.Mediterranean Corridor Strategic project to connect EuropeThe Mediterranean Corridor is a strategic project for the future of rail mobility in Spain and its connections with Europe. Its development will boost the structuring of the territory by uniting Andalusia Region of Murcia Valencian Community and Catalonia with Europe in standard width. It will also contribute to greater competitiveness of companies in the Mediterranean Arc and its area of influence promoting the transport of goods by rail.The execution of the Mediterranean Corridor has become a lever for economic recovery it is estimated that for every euro invested a return of 3.5 euros will be generated. Its development will lead to an increase in GDP by 2.2 until 2030 and is boosting job creation.It has also become a tool for the fight against climate change its contribution to the decarbonisation of transport and the reduction of the carbon footprint is specified in a reduction of up to 5.5 million tonnesyear of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.This action may be co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union CEF.
