Thales to provide the Mérida Logistics Platform with the latest signalling technology for rail freight transport

In Spain, Adif and the Regional Government of Extremadura are promoting rail freight transport with the main objective of improving the competitiveness of local companies and the region's economy. That is why the Mérida Logistics Platform, an intermodal rail freight terminal.

To make this new intermodal logistics terminal  for freight transport, it is necessary to connect the infrastructures with the railway lines that form part of the General Interest Railway Network (RFIG), managed by Adif.

Thales has been awarded with the contract of Adif to carry out the adaptation of the safety and communications installations affected by the new track configuration of the project. Two branches will be built on the Mérida - Los Rosales line, specifically on the route between the stations of Calamonte and Almendralejo. Both branches will connect with the general line, one to join it in the direction of Mérida, and the other to join it in the direction of Los Rosales (Zafra). Both diversions must be controlled from the interlockings of one of the collateral stations and from the Centralised Traffic Control Centre (CTC) at Sevilla Santa Justa.

This project includes the engineering, testing and commissioning of the necessary signalling and communications systems and the adaptation of the existing interlockings in Calamonte and Almendralejo, with Thales technology, as well as the installation of new field elements, train detection systems, drives, signals, local command post, energy, technical building, cable network and civil works. In terms of communications, Thales will be responsible for the fixed telecommunications system.

This action is part of the set of actions that Adif is carrying out with the aim of increasing rail freight transport in Spain, in line with its Strategic Plan 2030, the Strategy for Safe, Sustainable and Connected Mobility 2030 and the initiative Mercancías 30 of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.