Infrastructure

Trespaderne Tunnel

The Santander-Mediterranean Sea line, designed to link the ports of Santander and Valencia, was in operation for more than fifty years from Cidad-Dosante in Burgos to Calatayud, where it connected with the Ferrocarril Central de Aragón (Aragon Central Railway).

The project originated at the end of the 19th century, but did not come to fruition until 1920, when the State Government took up a previous study. The line was opened to the public between 1927 and 1930, although the connection with Santander never took place, despite the construction of the La Engaña tunnel that crossed the Cantabrian mountain range. In addition, the line underwent shut downs and abandonment, and finally closed in 1985.

Fifteen tunnels were built along the line, without taking into account the underground section at the entrance to Soria on the Calatayud side. On the section between Trespaderne and Oña is the tunnel of Trespaderne. As its name suggests, this bridge was located in the territory of this charming Spanish village in the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, known, among other things, for housing the impressive fortress of Tedeja, the oldest fortress built in Castile and one of the most ancient in Spain.

The infrastructure is located at kilometre point 320.3 and is the first of the six tunnels that the traveller will come across during this stage. Known as the Valdecastro tunnel, it is quite short, with a length of about 66 m, which allows us to see the other side of the tunnel, and it has no lighting. This construction, like the rest of the crossing works, was prepared for double track with large gauge galleries. In those tunnels with a curved route, it was wider. The vertical gables are covered with stone up to the start of the vault, which is made of concrete.

There are two viaducts at the exit of this tunnel, one of them helps to cross the N-629 road and the one located immediately after, the spectacular bed of the river Ebro.

Otros puntos de interés

• Old Medina de Pomar station
• La Horadada Tunnel
• Valdamí tunnel
• La Blanca Tunnel
• Viaduct over the river Oca
• Los Llanos Tunnel
• Túnel de la Rasa
• Old Oña station
• Viaduct
• Old Moneo Station
• Old Nofuentes station
• Viaduct over the river Nela in Trespaderne
• Old Trespaderne Station
• Viaduct over the river Ebro in Trespaderne