ADIF Takes Charge of Revitalizing Franco-Spanish Cross-Border Tunnel Project

According to a recent publication by the European infrastructure authority, Spanish infrastructure operator ADIF is set to oversee the reconstruction of the Somport tunnel that connects Spain and France. This decision comes after an agreement was reached with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

During a visit to Canfranc on june 9, which celebrated the reopening of an upgraded rail line from Zaragoza, Spanish transport minister José Antonio Santano announced that a contract for this €93 million project would be finalized in the fall.He emphasized that renovating this tunnel is crucial for Spain as part of their gradual plan to fully reopen the railway linking Canfranc and pau.Santano also mentioned receiving strong backing from french transport minister Philippe tabarot regarding this initiative. notably, this railway has been out of service as 1970.

the section on Spain’s side—the canfranero line connecting Huesca and Canfranc—has been under renovation for two years now. This upgrade includes features for mixed-gauge operations, addressing both gauge discrepancies between France and Spain while aiming to improve access for freight trains measuring 1,435 mm gauge into Spain’s industrial regions and ports.

The tracks have been replaced using versatile sleepers designed to support a third rail system, ensuring standard gauge connectivity from Pau all the way to Zaragoza and its nearby Plaza international freight logistics center. A meaningful investment of €180 million has gone into upgrading this route from Zaragoza alone; specifically, work on the Jaca-Canfranc segment accounted for €46 million of that total expenditure. Consequently of these enhancements, travel time between Huesca and Canfranc has decreased by half an hour—now taking just over two hours and thirty-five minutes.