Madrid-Galicia line

The Madrid-Galicia high-speed line, part of the North/Northwest Corridor, will place Galicia on the Spanish high-speed map.

The layout of the Galician railways has always been influenced by the rugged relief that has hindered railway communications with the centre of Spain. In fact, the first direct line between Madrid and Galicia, via Zamora and Ourense, was not achieved until 1958.

Indeed, the Galician railway is the site of two historic moments. The first occurred at the end of 2011, after the entry into service of the section between Ourense, Santiago and A Coruña, which had been under construction since June 2005. The second will be when the connection with the meseta comes into operation.

European Funding

Adif AV has received aid and financing for this line from the various European Union (EU) funds and programmes.

“A way to make Europe”

Advantages

Project description

Infrastructure characteristics

Current situation

On 10 December, 2011, after completion of all infrastructure works between Ourense and Santiago and the electrification and comprehensive improvement of the line between Santiago and A Coruña, the 150 km-long Ourense-Santiago-A Coruña line went into service. 3,300 million euros have been invested in its construction.

On October 26, 2020, the Zamora-Pedralba de la Pradería section came into service. This 110 km-long infrastructure significantly reduces the travel times between Madrid and Galicia, contributing to the social and economic structuring of the territories it crosses. The section ends at the Pedralba gauge changeover, which enables the continuity of the Madrid-Galicia railway connections by conventional track until the new Pedralba-Ourense segment is put into service in the near future.

Advantages

The new railway connection will permit significant improvements in speed, reliability, comfort and journey times.

The new Madrid - Galicia line is built with double electrified track, with high-speed parameters, and is designed for maximum speeds of 350 km/h. The arrival of high-speed also involves work to adapt and modernise facilities in stations along the route, as well as city planning improvements.

Journey times will improve progressively until the journey time between Santiago and Madrid will be around 3 hours.

This is a clear commitment to the railway as a means of transport that promotes social cohesion and stimulates the economy.

Layout description

The new access to Galicia starts at the fork of the Madrid-Valladolid Line in Olmedo and ends in Santiago de Compostela, where it links with the Galician Atlantic Axis.

It is a 434.86 km-long route along which ERTMS and ASFA signage will be implemented. The line is designed to handle a maximum speed of 350 km/h.