Perpignan-Figueres Cross-Border Railway, France

In November 2001 the French and Spanish governments agreed to work towards the construction of a new standard gauge (1,435mm) line between Perpignan in France and Figueres over the border in Spain. Six companies are shortlisted to build and operate the proposed link.

The line should connect the proposed French Languedoc-Rousillon TGV network extension from Nimes to Perpignan to the Spanish (1,435mm) high-speed line currently being built from Madrid to Barcelona and Figueres.

INFRASTRUCTURE

The line will speed up the passage of freight and passengers across the Franco-Spanish border, which is constrained by the change of gauge at Cerbere/Port Bou. Currently all through trains either pass through a gauge changer or are transhipped between wagons at the border, slowing the progress of freight in particular.

A 45.5km (28.3 miles) line, costing €714 million is planned between the two towns, including an 8.2km (5.1 miles) twin bore tunnel beneath the Pyrenees. Unlike previous TGV lines in France, the Languedoc-Rousillon and cross-border lines are to be built for mixed use, rather than exclusively for high-speed passenger trains, as passenger figures alone do not justify its construction. It is envisaged that high-speed passenger, freight and 'rolling road' style piggyback trains carrying complete trucks will use the line. These trains will require easier gradients than those found on other TGV lines, which can be as steep as 1 in 28.

Public consultation has begun on the Spanish section of the route, which runs for 20.8km (12.9 miles) from Figueres. Traffic for the first year of operations is expected to be around 3.5 million passengers and 4.2 million tonnes of freight, in addition to the 3 million tonnes of freight that already use the existing route.

SHORTLISTED CONSORTIA

Six consortia have been shortlisted to build and operate the route, including the Ferromed consortium, which has been put together by the French and Spanish railway infrastructure authorities, RFF and GIF. The consortia are:

• Acciona-Sacyr: Acciona, Sacyr, Necso
• Ferromed: RFF,GIF, Setec, Ineco
• Grupo Ferrovial-Vinci: Grupo Ferrovial, Vinci, Vinci Construction Grand Projets, Ferrovial Agroman
• FCC Construccion: Spie, Comsa, Obrascon Huarte Lain, Caja de Ahorros y Monte Piedad de Madrid, CGEA Connex, CGT Corporation General de Transporte, Protectyos y Servicios
• Grupo Dragados-Bouygues Travaux Publics: Grupo Dragados, Bouygues Travaux Publics, DTP Terrassement, DV Construction
• TP Ferro: Eiffage, ACS Actividades de Construccion y Servicios, Eiffage Construccion, Appia, Forclum, ACS Proyectos, Obras y Construcciones, Vias, Cobra, Semi, API, Electren

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