Hello all ;
Here's a video showing off Spain's new high speed line that goes from Barcelona to the border, and has entered service today. Hope you like it
watch?v=YnIAPRarQjc
Mario ---- thanks for the update. some observation that you can correct as necessary.
1. Noticed double slip sswitches at Barcelona that presently lead to unfinished tracks and bumper posts.
2. Not too many sidings to store any broken down trains.
3. did not see any freights -- are they night time ?
4. Saw reduntant substations close together -- good planning.
5. Nicely manicured track
6. lots of tunnels and viaducts
7. appears that electrification is using state - of - art auto transformer distribution system.
8. could not tell vertical clearance guage -- any idea ?
9. several switch machines at each switch and frogs.
blue streak 1 Mario ---- thanks for the update. some observation that you can correct as necessary. 1. Noticed double slip sswitches at Barcelona that presently lead to unfinished tracks and bumper posts. 2. Not too many sidings to store any broken down trains. 3. did not see any freights -- are they night time ? 4. Saw reduntant substations close together -- good planning. 5. Nicely manicured track 6. lots of tunnels and viaducts 7. appears that electrification is using state - of - art auto transformer distribution system. 8. could not tell vertical clearance guage -- any idea ? 9. several switch machines at each switch and frogs.
Hello Blue Streak 1
Subject 1 : the line was opened with much extra works still to be completed in the Barcelona area, notably the new intermodal station at Sagrera, just after the first tunel (when the train departs from Sants it is possible to see a rail route vehicle in the adjacent track). That's why some tracks seem to lead 'nowere' at least for now.
Subject 2 - That's true, and the origin for that might be some 'cost cutting' while building the line, sometthing that is also a little bit true for other HSLs in Spain. It seems that they prefer to use a lot of 'PUestos de Banalisacion' (crossovers').
Subject 3 - I do not know at present how many freights are using the line, but such trains only enter the HSL at Mollet Junction, some 20 miles east of Barcelona.
Subject 4 - Apart from the high speed network, wich is 25 Kv AC, all other lines (broad gauge) are 3 Kv Dc,. Maybe one or both substations might be for those lines, wich papalel the HSL in some places
Subject 5 - It has to be, sonce the line was built to hold speeds in excess of 350 Km/h
Subject 6 - The line goes hru montanious terrain, hence all the tunnels and viaducts, and some places where there are 3% grades. That's why track speed is not higher than 255 km/h
Subject 7 - Electrification of this line was made using a special type of catenary that is good for very high speeds. It is indeed state of the art
Subject 8 - I do not have a precise idea, but it's pretty wide
Subject 9 - There are several type of switches. The ones with several motors (8 in total - 3 in the moveable frog, and 5 at the points) are high speed crossovers, allowing a 'change of track' at 100 mph. These switches are extremely long, measuring more than 300 ft
Ah, just 2 details I was forgeting :
1) With this line, it is possible to go from Madrid to Paris in about 9 hours, with a train change (from AVE to TGV) in FigueresVillafant
2) It is expected to start direct high speed service between Madrid and Paris on next April, altough using a much circuitous route ( via Barcelona, Perpinya, Avignon and Lyon).
Jim200Very nice to see the progress that Spain is making in high speed rail travel. That was some very difficult terrain and must have required a lot of work. What other HSLs are planned or in construction?
My 'Crystal ball' says that at leastthe following lines are being built ;
- From Madrid Chamartin to Torrejon de Velasco Junction (20 miles South of Madrid), wich effectively will create a 'broadway' (4 tracks), with the purpose of separating the Madrid to Andalucia and MAdrid to Valencia HSL (today both share two tracks, wich means a lot of trains on close headways). This will also include the building of a 3rd tunnel between Chamartin and Atocha, also allowing a direct connection of the North HSL with the other lines of the network;
- From Albacete to alicante, with Albacete to La Encina being a conversion to standard gauge of a former broad gauge line;
- HSL North from Valladolid to Leon, and from Leon to Gijon, including a 'Base tunnel' some 30 miles long;
- From the HDL North to Ourense (HSL Galicia);
- Coast HSL from Murcia to Almeria, in the South, also including a huge 'base tunnel';
The 'Crystal Ball' also says that there are some projects being tought off, including a tunnel linking Europe and Africa (Spain . Morocco), with an eventual connection to the future Moroccan HSL
Are only the high speed lines standard gauge, or are some general lines being converted to standard gauge?
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