Siemens automates high-speed rail route in Northern Spain

Working as part of a consortium with Thales, Siemens is to supply the signal and control technology for a 50-kilometer section of the high-speed rail route between León and Asturias, as ordered by the Spanish administrator company Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias (ADIF). The contract encompasses installation of the train protection systems, the central control technology, the communication and video monitoring technology and maintenance of these systems.

The route section known as “Variante de Pajares” runs from La Robla to Pola de Lena in the north of the country, and forms part of the 120-kilometer high-speed line linking León and Asturias. The contract covers the delivery of train protection systems, the fixed telecommunications systems, the Centralized Traffic Control, auxiliary systems and the access control and video surveillance systems.

Installation of the train protection systems will take place in two phases: the first phase provides for commercial commissioning with the ASFA (Anuncio de Señales y Frenado Automático) train protection system provided by Siemens. Phase two of the project will see the installation of the Thales-supplied ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System) Level 2, which enables trains to operate at speeds up to 350 kilometers per hour.

Siemens has already equipped a number of Spain’s high-speed rail routes with signal and control technology. One example is the high-speed line between Córdoba and Málaga, for which Siemens carried out the project planning for, and installation of interlockings, train protection systems, communications technology, the GSM-R mobile radio system and associated components, within three construction phases. The scope of supply also included LED signals, Type FS3000 audio-frequency jointless track circuits, the ETCS Level 1 and 2 train control system and the Spanish train control system with intermittent signaling and brake monitoring (ASFA). Signaling and control technologies were also supplied for the high speed line from Madrid to Sevilla, which was the first high speed line opened in Spain in 1992. Siemens has also supplied Trainguard 100 and 200 track and vehicle equipment for the more than 300 kilometers of high-speed track connecting Lérida with Barcelona, La Sagra with Toledo and Segovia with Valladolid.