The study, which contributes to the realisation of Priority Project 3 (“High speed railway axis of southwest Europe”), will specifically look at track bed design and electrification along certain sections of the Vitoria-Bilbao-San Sebastián high speed line. It will receive €2.35 million in EU co-funding.

This Action forms part of the Atlantic branch of Priority Project 3 (High speed railway axis of Southwest Europe) and is on the section high speed Line Madrid-Basque Country-French border. The Action is divided in two activities. The first consists of the drafting of the design studies for only 17 km of high speed track bed and the second activity covers the drafting of the rail electrical supply equipment for the entire high speed line Vitoria-Bilbao-San Sebastián.

The design study will affect the Vitoria-Bilbao-San Sebastian high speed line, which has a length of 177 km and is planned to reach a top speed of 250 km/h. The line foresees a double UIC gauge track, which will allow the circulation of both passenger and cargo trains. The study is a necessary pre-requisite to conduct works on this section of infrastructure which, once completed, will lead to a decrease in travel times between Madrid and San Sebastián.

The accomplishment of the global project will improve connectivity between Madrid and the cities along the corridor (Madrid, Valladolid, Burgos, Vitoria, Bilbao, San Sebastian), decrease travel time and strengthen cohesion between regions in Spain.