Railway circulation between La Plana-Picamoixons and Sant Vicenç de Calders will remain interrupted until next July 6. Adif has decreed this measure to execute an urgent structural reform in two tunnels from the 19th century.
The works will extend for two months with emergency classification. The intervention directly affects the road that passes through Valls and forces the total diversion of freight and passenger trains.
Deterioration exceeds safety limits
One of the main focuses is the La Plana-Picamoixons tunnel. This 250-meter infrastructure already had a temporary speed limit of 30 km/h due to its critical condition.
The structure lacks artificial lighting and ventilation throughout its entire route. Erosive processes have increased due to the friction of trains on the shoulders of the section. Added to this is the accumulation of dirt and smoke from diesel locomotives.
"Maintenance has been limited to depositing new layers of ballast" - Consulted sources
This habitual practice has generated a regrowth of the road surface that threatens to cause landslides onto the platform. Technicians have detected slight deformations at the base of the gables, although there are no signs of serious displacements such as structural cracks.
Cracks and lack of waterproofing
The technical report points out several transverse cracks in the inlet and outlet mouths. The degradation of the mortar filling the joints between bricks and ashlar stones is evident throughout the entire extent.
In the most damaged areas, the grouting is completely missing. This defect increases the risk of materials falling onto the tracks. Furthermore, there are significant leaks in a conduit that does not have any waterproofing system.
The tunnel still has wooden sleepers which shows the age of the unrenovated structural elements. The situation requires immediate action to prevent partial collapses.
Impact on daily operations
Adif will also intervene in another tunnel located between Salomó and Roda de Berá. This second point needs structural reinforcement along its 200 meters of length. It has not been confirmed if there will be new subsequent phases of works.
This line is the only one in Catalonia where maintenance is carried out during daylight hours. This circumstance has prevented increasing traffic beyond four trains per direction per day.
The arrival of the convoys coming from Rodalies de Lleida should allow for an increase in frequencies in the future. For now, the closure is total and affects all users of this strategic corridor.