Awarded for 2,2 million euros: The Somport Tunnel reopens to international traffic

 

El Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobilitythrough Adif, has taken a decisive step towards the reactivation of the international rail traffic between Spain and France through the Pyrenees. The contract for the drafting of the construction project for the refurbishment of the railway tunnel in the Pyrenees has been awarded for 2,2 million euros (VAT included). Somport, a key piece in the ambitious reopening of the line Zaragoza-Canfranc-Pau.

 

This initiative is part of a joint effort to enable a new cross-border corridor, complementary to the axes of the Mediterranean and Atlantic, which will promote the movement of passengers and goods. The total estimated investment for the tunnel's development and the development of this corridor amounts to 93 million euros.

 

The historic Somport Tunnel, built between 1908 and 1915 and put into service in 1928, is 7,8 kilometers long. It currently serves as an emergency evacuation gallery for the Somport Road Tunnel. The closure of the international connection in March 1970, following an accident on the Somport Bridge, l'Estanguet, rendered this strategic step inoperative.

 

93 million euros will be invested in refurbishing the tunnel and enabling this corridor, complementary to the Mediterranean and Atlantic, to connect Spain and France.

 

A Two-Phase Project for a Vital Connection

 

The awarded contract is structured in two phases. The first will focus on defining the necessary civil and track works for the tunnel's refurbishment. This will include studies on clearance, layout, geology, drainage, geotechnics, and hydrogeology, as well as the expansion of the tunnel section and the necessary works for future rail and non-railway installations. The second phase will be dedicated to reports and complementary works.

 

The reopening of the Zaragoza-Canfranc-Pau line to international traffic is a priority objective, promoted by the Ministry of Transport and the Government of Aragon in Spainand by the Ministry of Transport and the New Aquitaine Region in France. Both countries have coordinated a common strategy, embodied in the "Study for the reopening of the Somport railway tunnel", the result of a collaboration agreement signed in October 2020. This study, completed in 2024, is the basis on which the now awarded construction project is based.

 

Strengthening the Trans-Pyrenean Axis

 

The Somport tunnel, integrated into the TEN-T Global Network, is emerging as a strategic trans-Pyrenean axis. Once operational, it will facilitate a direct connection between important logistics hubs that currently lack rail links, significantly improving cross-border transit and economic opportunities.

 

The Informative Study for the reopening of the tunnel, in the Spanish section, proposes Alternative 1 as the best solution, which entails an investment of approximately €93 million. This alternative involves removing the current lining, expanding the section and the cavity excavated in the rock, and constructing a new lining, ensuring structural safety and adaptability to future requirements. It also has a favorable environmental report.

 

Currently, only passenger and freight trains run from Zaragoza to Canfranc International Station on the Spanish side, and passenger services between Pau and Bedous on the French side. The section between Bedous and Canfranc, including the Somport Tunnel, remains out of service.

 

These projects, co-financed by the European Union's Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), contribute directly to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 (reliable and sustainable infrastructure), 7 (sustainability), and 8 (economic growth and jobs). The reopening of the Somport Tunnel is a crucial step towards stronger and more sustainable connectivity between Spain and France, with a positive impact on trade, tourism, and regional development.