The Pajares Diversion has an approximate length of 50 kilometres and is part of the León-Asturias high-speed line, which links the centre of Spain to the north. The section will be fitted with signalling and railway traffic control systems that ensure the highest safety and security of the line, passengers, rolling stock and the remainder of the railway installations.
The contract also includes the development and installation of train protection systems, fixed-line telecommunications, centralised traffic control (CTC), access control and video surveillance systems, as well as the connection with the Santibáñez-La Robla section and with Pola de Lena station, belonging to the conventional-width Venta de Baños-Gijón Commuter railway line.
The works will be executed in two phases; the first one will allow for commercial operation under the protection of the ASFA (Automatic Braking and Signal Announcement) system supplied by Siemens Rail Automation. The second phase of the project will see the installation of the ERTMS Level 2 system supplied by Thales, which will allow speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour to be reached.
The Madrid-Valladolid section was brought into service in December 2007. This is the starting point of what will be one of the principal high-speed corridors – running North-Northwest – linking the communities of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castile León and Madrid. Thales and Siemens Rail Automation participated in this project with the installation of the signalling, railway control, train protection and communications systems.
Siemens Rail Automation and Thales boast comprehensive national and international expertise in railway safety systems on high-speed, conventional and metropolitan lines. Both companies have jointly undertaken projects on different Spanish high-speed lines.
Signalling, railway control and train protection systems ensure the safety and security of the line’s passengers and goods, rolling stock and railway installations.
