Valladolid - Venta de Baños - Palencia - León Line
Contributing to the socioeconomic structure of the Autonomous Community of Castile and León
Contributing to the socioeconomic structure of the Autonomous Community of Castile and León
When this line comes into service, the capitals of Palencia and León will be included in the Spanish high-speed network. It will also favour connections towards Asturias (via León), Cantabria (via Palencia) and Burgos and the Basque Country (via Venta de Baños).
It also contributes to the socioeconomic structure of the Autonomous Region of Castile and León, and reduces the journey time between Madrid and the provincial capital of León.
European Funding
"A way to make Europe"
Description of the line
The new Valladolid - Venta de Baños - Palencia - León connection, which went into operation on 30 September, 2015, is 166 km long and is designed so that trains can run at a maximum speed of 350 km/h, with standard or UIC gauge track (1,435 mm), electrification at 2x25 kV 50 Hz in alternating current, typical of high-speed trains.
It is designed to support passenger and freight traffic.
Its route is not as conditioned by the abrupt orography of the terrain as the rest of the lines of the North-Northwest Corridor.
Important infrastructures
- One tunnel (Peña Rayada, 1,998 m) and one false tunnel (Villamuriel de Cerrato, 350 m).
- 48 viaducts / pergolas, to bridge other infrastructures at different levels.The viaducts over the Pisuerga River (1,331 m) and the Esla River (660 m), or the Torneros pergola (León), 606 m long, particularly stand out for their length.
- A Maintenance Base for the line in Villada (Palencia)
- The Venta de Baños Triangle, which will facilitate all direct traffic connections that are possible between Valladolid, Palencia, León and Burgos.
The line has three gauge changers: one in Villamuriel (south of Palencia), to enable traffic on the Iberian gauge up to Cantabria; and two near León station, to ensure traffic on the Iberian gauge up to Asturias and Galicia.
Main structures
- A viaduct over the Pisuerga River (1,331 m), on the Nudo Norte de Valladolid – Cabezón de Pisuerga section.
- The Peña Rayada Tunnel (1,998 m), on the Cabezón de Pisuerga-San Martín de Valvení (Valladolid) section.
- The Venta de Baños Triangle, which will facilitate all direct traffic routes that are possible between Valladolid, Palencia and Burgos.
- A viaduct over the Esla River (660 m), on the Palanquinos – Onzonilla (León) section.
- A 606 metre-long pergola over the tracks of the future towed and rolling stock facilities and the double track of the current Palencia-Coruña line, on the Palanquinos-Onzonilla (León) section.
- Maintenance Base for the line in Villada (Palencia)
Stations on the line
The adaptation has involved the complete renovation of the platforms, which have been widened, resurfaced, repaved and fitted with canopies. Accessibility has also been improved: access to the central platform has been improved by installing lifts next to the existing underpass, which has also been remodelled.
The new Palencia station includes two standard or UIC gauge high-speed tracks (the ones nearest to the passenger building), and two conventional gauge tracks.
Adaptation of the High Speed line to the Conventional Network double track between Onzonilla and León station, including the renovation of the track-bed, superstructure, electrification, safety elements and two new gauge changers. Two new siding tracks have also been built in the León station, which now has two conventional gauge tracks (high speed) and two Iberian gauge tracks.
Environmental measures
The Ministry of Public Works and Adif Alta Velocidad are promoting the development of a truly sustainable and nature-friendly railway, where the maximum respect for protected natural areas is maintained during the design, construction and operation of the railway infrastructure.
In addition to ensuring compliance with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the level to which the works are integrated into their surroundings and the effectiveness of the environmental measures adopted during the works are assessed from a global perspective.
All the measures are intended to reduce the impact of constructing the new line, while strictly respecting the ecosystem of the areas through which it runs, and minimising its visual, noise and landscape impact.
The longest is 1,331 m.
Villamuriel de Cerrato false tunnel (350 m)
Valladolid-Campo Grande, Palencia and León
