RENFE, the state railway company, announced plans to link France with Spain from La Junquera to Madrid to connect with existing line to Seville. August 1998.
$150 billion programme announced for infrastructural projects for years 2000 to 2006 with public/private funding in ratio 2:1. To include high speed lines Cordoba-Malaga, Madrid-Valencia, and Madrid-Valladolid. August 1999.
Prequalification expected 2001 for contractors for proposed $650 million Perpignan, France to Figueras, Spain rail link, which will include 8 km-long tunnel. Visit www.boe.es 08/01.
The main French and Spanish contractors teamed up to prequalify for the design, build, maintenance and operate concession notice, which expired on 1st October, 2001. The competing jvs are: Vinci, Ferrovial; Bouygues, Dragados; Eiffage, ACS; Spie Batignolles, FCC, Comsa, OHL, Proser; Necso, Sacyr; and RFF (Réseau Ferré de France) and its Spanish counterpart GIF (Gestor de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias), the state-owned bodies in charge of rail infrastructure, with public engineering firms of both countries. Bids submission before March, 2002. The 2 x 8,141 m-long tunnel will cross the Pyrenees at Le Perthus Pass with 7,317 m in France and 845 m in Spain. Project valued at Euros714 million expected to be commissioned in 2005. Visit http://ted.eur-op.int, document S 127-086319. 41/01.
The six consortia prequalified in December, 2001 for the concession of the international high speed section between France and Spain, have all handed a proposal on 2nd April, 2002. They are: Ferromed, a jv of Réseau Ferré de France, Gestor de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias, Setec, and Ineco; Acciona / Sacyr; Dragados / Bouygues / DTP Terrassement / DV Construction; TP Ferro, a consortium between Eiffage / ACS / Appia / Forclum / Vías y Construcciones / Cobra / Semi / Api / Electrén; FCC / OHL / Comsa / Proser / Corporacií³n General de Transporte / Rascon / Caja Madrid / Connex / Spie; and Vinci / Ferrovial. There is a 8 km tunnel in very hard rock under the Perthus pass, valued at €610 million. 15/02.
Euroferro, a consortium of Dragados, Bouygues Travaux Publics, DTP Terrassement and DV Construction, has been named preferred bidder for the concession of the Perpignan-Figueras high speed train between France and Spain. There will be a 2 x 8.2 km tunnel under the Perthus Pass. The line is due to open in 2005. 29/02.
The Spanish and French governments have concluded without reaching an agreement the negotiations with Euroferro, a consortium of Dragados, Bouygues, DTP Terrassement and DV Construction, for the awarding of a 50-year concession to build and operate the Figueras-Perpignan high speed line. The breaking-off of the talks is due "to the impossibility of both governments to accept the last requests of the consortium, incompatible with the principles that govern the concession". The consortium requested guarantees regarding a minimum traffic to ensure the profitability of the concession and regarding also "posible risks that may appear during the construction". Dragados explains the failed negotiation by the refusal from the Spanish and French governments to give "a series of financial guarantees" requested by the consortium.The €890.1 million bid submitted by Euroferro to build the link was not the cheapest but it was the shortest construction time with 51 months and work seven days a week. The share of the public subsidy in the consortium's bid was also 30% lower than in the other bids.The Spanish-French intergovernmental commission set up to select the concessionaire for the Figueras-Perpignan high speed link is now to invite bids from the interested tenderers. It is estimated that six to eight weeks will be necessary to replace Euroferro. The five JVs that bidded along with Euroferro are Ferrovial and Vinci; FCC, OHL, Comsa, Proser, Caja Madrid and Connex; ACS and its subsidiaries Cobra, Vías y Construcciones and Electren with French contractor Eiffage; a consortium composed of Necso and Sacyr; and Réseau Ferré de France, Gestor de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias, Setec and Ineco.The Figueras-Perpignan line is 45.4 km in length, of which 24.6 km in France and 20.85 km in Spain. The project includes a 8,171 m tunnel under Le Perthus Pass in the Pyrenees, estimated to cost €335 million. It is now thought that the Figueras-Perpignan line will not be ready until 2007-2008 or even 2009-2010 according to the most pessimistic estimates. 17/03.
Notice of works concession, deadline 18th June, 2003 for the international section between Figueras and Perpignan of the high speed line between Spain and France. The concession is for the design, construction, maintenance and operation of a new 45.5 km line, 24.6 km of which in France and 20.9 in Spain, for passenger and freight traffic, including the Perthus twin-tube tunnel, approximately 8.2 km in length. Visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=079444-2003, OJ S 89, or contact Ministerio de fomento, Madrid, fax +34 91 5979342, e-mail midorrego@mfom.es or visit http://ted.publications.eu.int/udl?request=Seek-Deliver&language=en&docid=079443-2003, OJ S 89, or contact Ministère de l'équipement, des transports, du logement, du tourisme et de la mer, Paris-La Défense, fax +33 140811661, e-mail louis.brisset@equipement.gouv.fr 20/03.