Green light to a new double track section between Petra and Manacor to allow frequency increase
The Govern authorizes an investment of 6,17 million euros to execute the works
The action will increase the capacity of the line, improve the timeliness and strengthen the reliability of the railway service
The Govern Council has authorized the necessary expenditure to execute the Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca project (SFM) to build a new double-track section between Petra and Manacor, with an overall investment of €6.176,705,09 (VAT included).
The action will increase the capacity of the Palma-Manacor railway line and create the conditions necessary to make possible a future increase in service frequencies so that, in the future, they can be doubled.
The works will consist of the construction of a new over 3 km forward and train parking point (PAET). This is a double track section located between the link station and Manacor, a route that is currently unique and that, once the works are completed, will allow the crossing of trains.
This action will make it possible for two circulations in opposite directions to coincide at this point on the line without having to stop, which will increase its capacity and bring greater flexibility to the railway operation.
The new infrastructure will also help to improve the regularity and timeliness of the service, as it will facilitate the recovery of possible delays through the incorporation of a new crossing point. It will also strengthen the reliability of the railway operation in the face of incidents and facilitate maintenance tasks by allowing the parking of the machinery necessary to intervene on both the track and the catenary.
The works will be tendered in two lots. The first will include civil works, via and catenary work, while the second will include signalling, security and communications facilities. The planned implementation period shall be eight months for the first batch and seven months for the second batch.
The project is part of the modernization strategy of the railway network developed by the Govern and SFM since the beginning of the legislature with the aim of further improving the safety, reliability, capacity and quality of service.
This is a global planning that combines actions on infrastructure, mobile material and the expansion of the network to respond to the growth of demand and prepare the Mallorcan railway for the challenges of the coming years.
In the area of safety, it highlights the implementation of the European rail traffic management system (ERTMS), which will increase the levels of safety, reliability and network capacity. At the same time, contracts for the maintenance of railway infrastructure and mobile equipment have been strengthened to ensure the best conditions of service for facilities and trains.
This strategy also includes the incorporation of new trains and towing cars to increase transport capacity, as well as the construction of a new electrical substation in the Son Rutlan workshops, an action that will increase the power available at the Intermodal Station and contribute to making possible future frequency increases.
At the same time, the Govern continues to make progress in expanding the railway network with the projects of the new lines. Currently, the Palma-Llucmajor line projects are already being developed, with the aim of starting the works in 2028 and putting them into service in 2032. At the same time, work is also being done on planning future rail connections with Alcúdia and Artà.