Atlantic axis points to new risk of delay in the modernization of … – publico

                 

                         
                     

                 

 
                         

Cross-border organization Atlantic Axis announced today that it has sent a letter to the Portuguese Government to ask for a “state of play” of the Minho line modernization project and the “timing” of concrete investments announced for that railroad.

                     

  � �                      In the letter sent to the Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications, to which Lusa had access, the responsible entity that brings together the 34 largest cities of the Euro-region Galicia-North Portugal claim had no “news of the opening no contest” by 1 December. The fact, point out, “would call into question the planned timing, as well as the commitments of Portugal with the Government of Spain.”

“Following the commitment that gave us the prime minister after a meeting in Sao Bento Palace, as well as the agreements between the Government of Portugal and Spain, set up in 2017 as the target for the Portuguese section in the Minho Line was electrified and with appropriate signage to allow the Alfa Pendular was to Vigo [ Spain] “, says the document, signed by the vice president and the president of the general meeting of the Axis, Ricardo Rio and Jose Maria Costa, respectively.

also mayors of Braga and Viana do Castelo say they have received information “that the work would be divided into four contracts and that would all be tendered and awarded to the 2014 finals to start in 2015 the Nine section (Braga) and Viana do Castelo, in the first place and then Viana do Castelo – “.
” Frontier (Spain) This information was also confirmed and officially transmitted to the president of Galicia (Spain), the President of the Northern Regional Development Commission (CCDR-N) “, underline

Last August, the government authorized the National Railway Network (REFER) to invest up to two million euros in studies and projects for the modernization of the Minho line to be completed by 2017, as stated in the ordinance 699
2014, August 25, published in the Official Gazette. In law, the Minister of State and Finance, signed by Maria Luís Albuquerque, explained that the total cost of this phase is around two million euros, with the financial implementation distributed multi-annual basis by 2017.

Last July, the president of CP, Manuel Queiró said the electrification of the Minho line, between Valencia and Nine, is expected to start in 2017, to be completed in 2019. At the time, he stressed that the intervention set out in the Strategic Plan for Transport and Infrastructures (PETI) and is considered a “priority project”.

Today the journey time between Porto and Vigo is about two hours and 15 minutes, with stops in Valencia and Viana do Castelo and Nine . The investment will reduce the time of that trip to 90 minutes.