Adif continues to work on restoring rail traffic between Aldaia and Buñol on line C3 of Cercanías Valencia (part of line 310 of the RFIG), following the severe damage suffered by the DANA on 29 October. This section was the most affected in the Valencia core, forcing Adif to deploy an extraordinary reconstruction plan.
Thanks to a great effort made in a short time, train traffic could be restored between Valencia and Aldaia (9.5 km) before Christmas.
Currently, the works are focused on the Aldaia-Buñol section, which is 34 km long, where platform, infrastructure, track superstructure, communications, and signalling replacement works are being carried out.
One of the main challenges has been the total reconstruction of the Barranco Grande, Cheste I and Cheste II bridges. After demolishing the old structures (between 135 m and 216 m), the foundations of Barranco Grande have been completed, while progress is being made on the foundations of the two bridges in Cheste.
Main actions carried out
To date, Adif has undertaken the following works on the C-3 line:
- Cleaning and removal of vehicles, sludge, earth, and debris.
- Provisional replacement of affected enclosures, accesses, slopes, and channelling; cleaning of drains.
- Dismantling and lifting of track, excavation and removal of contaminated ballast, and preparation and compaction of the platform.
- Installation of geotextile blanket, ballast supply and levelling, track re-assembly, welding, and adjustments.
- Recovery of interlocking, signalling, communications, and fibre optic electronics.
- Repair of lighting and water drainage in station subways and streets.
The investment in these emergency actions will exceed 100 million euros (excluding VAT).
Integral renovation between Buñol and Utiel
In parallel to the repositioning of the conditions caused by the DANA, Adif is undertaking the complete renovation of the Buñol-Utiel section (46 km), awarded for 71.3 million euros as part of the Valencia Suburban Train Plan. The main improvements on this section include:
- Complete renewal of general and siding track (45.6 km): rail, sleepers, ballast and new switches and crossings in Utiel and El Rebollar.
- Cleaning of drains and ditches.
- Protection against landslides using mesh, nets, bolting and gunning.
- Adaptation of platforms at Utiel, El Rebollar, San Antonio de Requena, Requena, Siete Aguas and Venta Mina stations to the new track layout.
- Upgrading of the 13 tunnels for future electrification to 25 kV 50 Hz AC.
- Civil works on 10 bridges and 22 overpasses.
- Verification and adaptation of cross drains, in collaboration with the Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar, to ensure hydraulic capacity in the event of future episodes.
More reliability, regularity, and comfort for the network
Thanks to these actions, the reliability of the infrastructure and the regularity of traffic will be increased, as well as passenger comfort and maximum speed.
All this will be further improved when the electrification works are carried out, which will allow the replacement of the line’s rolling stock, currently of the 592 series.
In addition, the comprehensive renovation will facilitate maintenance, as it will result in a virtually new line. Finally, the works aim to increase the robustness of the infrastructure to withstand future extreme weather events.