The works for the restoration of the railway on the Madrid-Hendaya Line (Gabiria, Spain) are progressing

On December 9, 2021, at 13:08 hours, as a result of intense rainfall in the area, a landslide occurred on the railway platform at PK 570+160 of the Madrid-Hendaya Line (Gabiria, Spain), originating from the upper slope, in the Zumárraga-Gabiria section. The slide affected Tunnel No. 43 (known as Erizmendi) at its northern entrance, impacting both tracks. As a result of the event, mudslides entered the tunnel and affected a train traveling on the line, causing it to derail and overturn.

Based on the initial solution proposed by ADIF, and after the relevant geotechnical and hydrological studies carried out by SEG’s specialist technicians, the construction actions to be carried out on the slope to prevent future landslides were defined. These are:

• Construction of a stone-filled wall halfway up the slope with prefabricated frames for runoff water drainage from the slope.
• Execution of Californian drains on the slope to eliminate interstitial pressures in case of saturation by water from the terrain.
• Construction of ditches at the head and foot of the slope.
• A stepped central downspout of 70 meters in length, which connects the drainage system between the area above the riprap wall and the lower water runoff ditch.
• Protection of the slope at the tunnel entrance of Erizmendi using a geomesh system and triple twist mesh anchored with threaded bolts.
• Renovation and rehabilitation of track over a 500m stretch.

With just a few days left until the anniversary of the event, the works are at a very advanced stage of execution, with completion expected by February 2023.