The Community of Madrid will invest EUR 29.5 million in works to improve Metro Line 7B between the San Fernando and Barrio del Puerto stations, a section that has not been in service since July 27 due to signalling work. The city will also dispatch EUR 6.7 million for services that will guarantee the quality and safety of 40 new Metro trains.
The Governing Council has authorized these works with an emergency contract and a seven-month execution period, which will allow for waterproofing and ground consolidation work, repairs to the superstructure and drainage of the tunnel, similar to those already being carried out since June 3 between San Fernando and Hospital del Henares.
Since the start of the works, the Ministry of Housing, Transport and Infrastructure has been developing a Comprehensive Action Plan for L7B, presented by the regional government in October 2022, and which includes these interventions.
Apart from these projects, the regional government has implemented other measures to meet the needs of those affected. Recently, it announced a 100% reduction in taxes on the purchase of a home by the victims of the disaster in San Fernando de Henares. In addition, compensation has already been paid to 63 families worth nearly EUR million.
The Community of Madrid’s budget for this year also included an investment of EUR 63 million to help residents meet their rental, transportation and maintenance costs while the land is being consolidated and until all compensation cases are resolved.
Also, and within the initiatives aimed at meeting the demands of other groups involved, the Community of Madrid has launched a line of aid for SMEs and individual entrepreneurs in the commercial and service sectors of the area. With incentives of up to EUR 50,000 they cover the acquisition of equipment, computer and technological material, e-commerce projects and web page design, current expenses and reform, modernization and adaptation.
Madrid Metro invests EUR 6.7 million for safety
The Community of Madrid will also invest EUR 6.7 million for services that will guarantee the quality and safety of 40 new Metro trains. The Governing Council was informed of the proposal for the award to carry out the certification, inspection, monitoring and assistance for the supply of these wide-gauge trains intended mainly for lines 6 and 8, whose arrival is expected in approximately three years.
The objective of the contract, with a duration of ten years, is to confirm the maximum efficiency of the new rolling stock that the metropolitan company has acquired. The tender covers all these tasks in the complete process of design, manufacturing, guarantee and implementation of an Optimized Maintenance Plan.
The consultancy service will also be provided during all phases of the project, with on-site attendance at the testing of materials, equipment and systems, as well as checks on the entire train. In addition, among other tasks, it will act as an Assessment Entity, independently certifying that the train and the structures comprising it comply with all the quality and safety requirements demanded in the European railway sector.
The regional government will invest EUR 450 million euros in the purchase of these 40 trains, each with six carriages and interconnecting corridors, which will replace the older models. In addition, the acquisition of another 40 units is also planned, in this case narrow gauge for Line 1, the first one opened by the Metro in 1919.
Share on:
