Skip links

Leon-Asturias HSR Line

2
SECTIONS
18.2
KM
1
GAUGE CHANGER
€342.9
MILLION

The construction of the Leon-Asturias High-Speed Line has been a technical and engineering challenge at both European and global levels due to the geological and morphological diversity of the mountain range it crosses. Azvi participated in the construction of three major areas of the project.

Pajares Tunnel

Description

Azvi was involved in three key parts of the construction of this major infrastructure that will establish a High-Speed Rail connection between Asturias, Leon and the rest of Spain across the Cantabrian mountain range:

    • Pajares Tunnels: Azvi was part of the “Pajares Tunnel IV” joint venture, responsible for executing the Western tunnel.
    • The assembly of 17.97km of track on the Campomanes-Pola de Lena section, notably the assembly of 540m of double track on prefabricated slab between two tunnels, and on 120m of viaduct. A highly successful, pioneering assembly method, designed by Azvi’s construction team, was employed.
    • The Campomanes gauge changer.

Pajares Tunnels

The work involved the construction of the track bed for the High-Speed Line, corresponding to the section of the Western Tunnel (left hand track) between the regions of Castilla y Leon (Villamanín)  and Asturias (Lena).

The section included an underground system of galleries and tunnels, formed by the main Western Pajares Tunnel and the service tunnels and galleries.

The 10,403-metre project is composed of a 47.76m artificial tunnel and the remaining 10,355m of the tunnel itself.

⸺ SEE MORE
Pajares Tunnel
Azvi

Track Assembly and Campomanes Gauge Changer

The project also included the construction of a gauge changer, enabling passenger and freight trains to run between La Robla y Pola de Lena (León – Asturias) on both 1,435 mm and 1,668 mm gauges.

A PAET (train overtaking and parking area) and gauge changer were built in Campomanes, from where trains will continue running on 1,668 mm gauge to Pola de Lena.

Approximately half of the 7.8km section was constructed with ballast track, while the remaining half was built with slab track.

Related projects

Explorar
Mover