This Monday, Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) announced progress in the modernization projects of the Douro railway line, regarding the electrification of the Regua – Posinho section and the study of the opening of the route to Barca d’Alva.
“The current state of play in the development of these contracts demonstrates IP’s full commitment to making the investments planned for the Douro Line under the National Investment Program (PNI) 2030 a reality by the end of this decade,” he said. IP, in a statement.
The company, which has been criticized for delays in completing upgrades to the Douro line, said it was developing a set of projects as part of the Ferrovia 2020 and PNI 2030 programs that aim to ensure the path of “state-of-the-art control systems, compatible control and signaling systems, and electric traction to along its entire length, creating a modern, safer, more functional and sustainable railway infrastructure to serve the mobility of the region’s population.”
In this sense, he emphasized that in June “several important actions were carried out to develop the current procedures, namely the start of the research and project phase.”
Among them, he highlighted the contract for the Douro line – the electrification and modernization of the Peso da Régua – Posinho section – as well as the adaptation and replacement of metal bridges – Lots 1, 2 and 3 – worth 2.4 million euros.
The company explained that “contracts have been awarded and studies have begun on solutions that will be implemented so that the metal bridges on the Regua/Posinho section can support towed loads weighing 22.5 tons per axle.”
According to IP, last week there was an opening of proposals for a competition called “Line Douro – Regua – Posinho – Electrification and Modernization”, which started with a base price of seven million euros and aims to develop the studies and projects needed for electrification. and infrastructure upgrades in the Regua/Posinho section.
Electrification of the Douro line is completed to Marco de Canaveses.
In the first week of this month, the company added, the contract for the preparation of a preliminary study and implementation of the project for the restoration and discovery of the Posinho/Barça D’Alva site also began.
This investment, with a contract value of approximately four million euros, aims to restart the railway on this section of the Douro line, which was closed in 1988.
This railway currently connects Porto with Posinho (171.522 kilometers), and for several years the opening of a 28-kilometer section between Posinho (Vila Nova de Foz Coa) and Barça d’Alva (Figueira de Coa) has been promoted. Castelo-Rodrigo).
The company added that in addition to these projects, the modernization of the Douro line also includes the installation of electronic signaling, including automatic speed control systems and automation of level crossings.
This signaling, he explained, will be compatible with the Trans-European Railway Interconnection System, as well as with the GSM-R telecommunications system, which will support communications for other systems that will be installed.
According to the company, the Douro line will also be equipped with a system compatible with the European Rail Traffic Management System – ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) with ETCS (European Rail Traffic Control System) level 2.
Regarding stations and stops, he said passenger piers with a length of 150 meters and a height of 0.76 meters would be considered.
In the specific case of the Regua station, he concluded, it is planned to build a pier 200 meters long, which will allow it to be used for intercity transportation.
“The implementation of this comprehensive package of measures will provide users of the Douro Line with a more efficient, faster, safer and more environmentally sustainable public transport service,” the company concluded.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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