Today, the Commission has approved funding worth more than €110 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to revamp the Madrid-Seville high-speed railway line in Spain and ensure that the transport system becomes smarter, sustainable, and more efficient.
- 24 June 2024
This support will help upgrade a total of 435.2 km of the 471 km railway line infrastructure, ensuring that the line meets European rail interoperability standards (providing a safe, reliable, and accessible rail network) and the requirements laid out under the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said: “Intercity transport by rail should become a more attractive option for passengers, especially because it is a greener mode of transport. This Cohesion Policy support will help the railway line to adapt to the latest interoperability specifications, contributing to an efficient, integrated rail system, and paving the way for more modernised rail networks and links across Europe. This will also boost economic activity in Spain and reduce greenhouse emissions.”
To improve the overall quality, reliability, and frequency of the service, the revamped works will include replacing outdated rails and carriages, upgrading bridges and tunnels, and adapting drainage systems. Buildings and installations necessary for the operation of the line will be modernised, and access roads will be improved.
Improving the attractiveness of the service is also expected to lead to a shift away from road and air transport to rail, which will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
More information
For more information on EU-funded projects in Spain, please visit the Kohesio website and the Cohesion Open Data Platform.