Adif has awarded €925,856.50 for the drafting of the project that will define the acoustic and anti-vibration protections on the railway section between Bobadilla and Ronda, spanning 69.9 kilometres. The study will analyse the most sensitive points along the route.
Adif has taken a new step in the modernisation of the Bobadilla-Algeciras railway line with the awarding of the project that will design the future acoustic screens and anti-vibration solutions along the section between Bobadilla and Ronda. The contract, valued at €925,856.50, will be used to draft the study that will determine the necessary measures to mitigate the impact of train passage along the 69.9 kilometres of this route, which is undergoing a comprehensive renewal process.
During this initial phase, technicians will analyse the most sensitive points along the route, especially those where the track runs close to homes, urban areas, or spaces of special scenic value. The resulting document must specify the location, dimensions, and characteristics of the acoustic screens to be installed, as well as additional measures to reduce vibrations generated by railway traffic.
The choice of each solution will take into account the surrounding conditions, construction difficulties, and landscape and urban integration. Adif aims to ensure that the future barriers do not function as foreign elements to the territory, seeking a design that adapts to each environment.
This project is part of the renewal plan for the Bobadilla-Algeciras connection, in which Adif estimates that more than €514 million has been mobilised to date. The programme includes the renewal of the track, its electrification, and the expansion of sidings to allow for the passage of longer trains.
The line is strategic for freight transport, as it connects to the Port of Algeciras Bay, the most active in the country. Additionally, it is set to host services for the future rail motorway between Algeciras and Zaragoza and serves as a junction between the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors.
As work progresses on the infrastructure, modernisation is also extending to safety and communication systems. Between Bobadilla and Ronda, GSM-R mobile telecommunications and automatic blocking, a system to ensure safety distances between trains, are being installed. South of Ronda, part of this renewal has already been completed, and Adif has contracted the modernisation of signalling between the city of Tajo and Algeciras using the digital ASFA system.
Another ongoing front is electrification. The company has tendered for the construction and maintenance of the Marchenilla traction substation and the associated autotransformation centres for the Ronda-Algeciras section. The installation of the overhead contact line and its complementary systems is also being processed. For the route between Bobadilla and Ronda, the drafting of a new electrical substation project in Ronda has been awarded, which will complete the electrification of the sector.
The drafting now awarded does not imply the immediate placement of the screens, but is a preliminary step to establish what actions need to be carried out and at which points. Once the project is completed, Adif will need to process and contract the necessary works to reduce noise and vibrations in the affected locations.
For the residents of the Serranía de Ronda, this action represents a step forward in improving quality of life, especially in those urban areas close to the track. The reduction of noise and vibrations will benefit towns such as Ronda, Arriate, or Benaoján, where the passage of trains causes disturbances. Furthermore, the modernisation of the line will enhance the reliability and frequency of services, both for passengers and freight.
The project is part of a global investment aimed at transforming the Bobadilla-Algeciras line into a high-capacity railway axis, adapted to the demands of the 21st century. The complete electrification of the route will reduce travel times and increase energy efficiency, while improvements in signalling and communications will enhance safety.
Adif expects the drafting works for the acoustic screens project to be completed in the coming months, after which the bidding process for the works will begin. Meanwhile, work continues on other sections of the line, with the aim of completing the modernisation within the planned timelines.
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