Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (Mitma) has approved the informative study of the new Seville – Huelva high-speed line, as well as its public information and hearing file, a fundamental milestone to be able to start the procedures to tender the drafting of the project.
According to the study, the new 95 km high-speed line between Seville and Huelva is designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h and will have an intermediate station in La Palma del Condado. This is a new high-speed platform in international or standard gauge, independent of the existing Iberian gauge line. Although it is designed exclusively for passenger traffic, the maximum gradient of 1.5% opens the door to freight trains which can use the line
Mitma selected option 2.1 for the alignment of the new line, while making some modifications which include the extension of two cut-and-cover tunnels by 1.11 km and the construction of a 100-metre viaduct to replace a culvert carrying a stream at Perales under the line.
In addition, wildlife passage structures were incorporated, with the focus on reducing habitat fragmentation, allowing permeability for fauna and ecological connectivity. The objective is to reduce the impacts on the environment in a corridor close to areas of great ecological value and biodiversity.
Seville – Huelva high-speed line will reduce travel time from 1 hour and 30 minutes to only 26 minutes between the two cities and improve the quality of rail services, which will shift traffic from private cars to rail. In addition to improving Huelva’s connectivity with Seville, the new line will also improve the mobility of the city of Huelva with the rest of Spain, as it will be integrated into the high-speed network.
The new line will also contribute to promoting more sustainable and safe mobility and reducing pollution and congestion.
The project is implemented under the Sustainable, Safe and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030 aimed at improving social cohesion, economic growth and solving real mobility problems. The railway mode of transport is aligned with these objectives and contributes to sustainable mobility from a social, economic and environmental point of view.
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