Spain’s Antequera-Granada HSL: High-Speed Rail Infrastructure Boost

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Introduction

Adif has awarded a EUR 283.3 million contract for the construction of the Loja Variant – Valle del Genil section of the Antequera–Granada HSL. This 7.9 km section is part of the 19 km Loja Variant designed for standard-gauge double track to reduce travel times on routes to Granada.

Loja Variant – Valle del Genil Section

The contract, valued at EUR 283.3 million, covers the construction of the Valle del Genil section of the Loja Variant. This section, which is the longest of the Loja Variant, runs through the municipalities of Loja, Salar, and Huétor-Tájar. Key features include the 1.3 km Cerro de los Limones tunnel and the 794-metre-long Genil Viaduct, which will cross the Genil River, its plain, and the A-92 motorway. The 693-metre Salar Viaduct will span the Salar stream valley and the A-4155 road. The project will incorporate archaeological preservation measures to protect the Villa Romana de Salar, a designated Cultural Heritage Site.

Antequera–Granada HSL and Environmental Considerations

The Antequera–Granada HSL passes through the Loja region, an environmentally sensitive area with an underlying aquifer. The Loja Variant’s design includes a new alignment to the south of the city and the A-92, along the slopes of the Sierra de Loja. Roughly one-third of the Variant’s total length will run through tunnels or over viaducts, increasing to 50% in the Loja–A92 section. The alignment comprises four railway sections.

Double-Tracking Project

Adif AV has launched a EUR 8.5 million tender for the purchase of 220,000 tonnes of ballast for the Antequera–Granada HSL. This will be used for laying a new standard-gauge track parallel to the existing one over 46 km of the line, between Archidona Junction and Riofrío Junction, and also between the Íllora switch station and La Chana Junction. A previous contract, valued at EUR 9.6 million, was awarded for the acquisition of over 80,000 sleepers for the same double-tracking project. Construction works for the second track along this stretch will be tendered shortly.

Project Status and Future Plans

Currently, a 9.5 km section of double track is operational between Antequera station and the Archidona viaduct. The project for the electrification systems is currently being drafted. Upon completion of the first phase, the Antequera–Granada HSL will feature 82 km of double track, representing two-thirds of the line’s total length. Adif has indicated that these projects may be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).