The railway operator Adif has given a new boost to the high-speed train (AVE) works in the province of Almería with the award of two contracts worth over 50 million euros. These investments are designated for the installation of train tracks, a fundamental step for the AVE's arrival in the region.

The first contract, valued at 28.2 million euros, focuses on the supply of ballast, an essential material for railway infrastructure. 935,000 tons of this component will be acquired for the 138-kilometer section between Lorca and Vera. This material, made of crushed stone, is crucial for supporting sleepers and rails, absorbing loads, and ensuring track stability.

This ballast contract has been divided into six lots and awarded to three companies: Canteras Sierra Enmedio, Canteras Ávila, and the UTE Ofitas de Santutis - Ofitas de Cerro Sillado. The material delivery period is 16 months and includes processes such as extraction, storage, loading, transportation, and washing of the ballast.

The second contract, with an investment of 22.3 million euros, is for the supply and transport of railway switches for the same Lorca-Vera section. Specifically, it will cover the stations of Puerto Lumbreras, Almendricos, Pulpí, and Vera. The company Voestalpine Railway Sistems JEZ has been awarded these 53 high-speed track switches, designed for speeds of up to 350 km/h in some cases.

These contracts are in addition to others already underway, such as track installation in the Murcia-Lorca and Vera-Almería sections, and the tender for works on the Lorca-Vera stretch. The publication of these awards comes amid recent reports indicating potential delays in the final arrival of the AVE to Almería, placing its operational status beyond 2029.