Hitachi Rail technology supports renovation program for level crossings on the Spanish conventional rail network

• Hitachi Rail is implementing its state-of-the-art technology for level crossing protection as part of Adif's plan to renovate more than 1,000 level crossings on the conventional and metric gauge rail network.

• Railroad digitization increases the regularity and reliability of rail operation improving capacity on the network.

Hitachi Rail is supporting Adif's intensive campaign to renovate the facilities and technology of more than 1,000 level crossings on the conventional and metric gauge network. Hitachi Rail's roll in this programme, as a leader in railway technology, includes the delivery of interlockings, level crossings, field elements and communications systems.

In order to align with new safety regulations, in addition to the interest in improving regularity and reliability in railway operation, advanced recording equipment is being introduced at level crossings. This is being complemented by the implementation of modern communications network and new hardware and software systems supporting the maintenance and monitoring of the status of each crossing.

Hitachi Rail is currently involved in the execution of several contracts with Adif for the renovation of the protection of road-rail crossings. The projects include the upgrade of eleven level crossings located on the conventional railway line linking the towns of Guadalmez and Castuera in Badajoz. The action is part of the integral renovation of the Merida-Puertollano corridor and will have class A2 protection in some of these crossings, and class A3 in others, according to Adif's current regulations.

Also on the conventional railway line Zafra-Huelva Mercancías and Zafra-Jerez de los Caballeros, the safety conditions of level crossings are being improved. Specifically, twelve road-railway crossings are being protected, ten on the first line and two on the second. These level crossings will be equipped with class A2 active protection systems, except for the one located in the municipality of Puebla de Sancho Pérez, which will also be provided with half-barriers (class A3).

In the north of the country, Hitachi Rail is also modifying the functionality of the automatic level crossing protection on the Infiesto-Cabezón de la Sal section. A total of 10 level crossings in Cantabria and Asturias corresponding to the 770 Oviedo - Santander line.

Aligned with the achievement of SDG 3 (Health and Wellbeing) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), this improvement program responds to Adif's intention to digitize the railroad and increase its reliability.