On November 8, 2024, Adif AV celebrated the completion of the Rante tunnel excavation on the new Tabodela-Seixalbo route, part of Spain's high-speed rail (LAV) network. This 3.4-km tunnel, built with the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), is a critical section of the 7.9-km bypass around Ourense, extending the Madrid-Galicia high-speed line with a double electrified standard-gauge track.

The excavation was carried out from four points simultaneously across complex geological conditions, progressing at an average rate of 4.5 meters per day. Following a breakthrough in September on the South front, the final connection was achieved between the North portal and the North intermediate front.

With excavation complete, the tunnel will now be sealed and reinforced with 40,700 cubic meters of concrete. Subsequent phases will include track installation, electrification, and the setup of essential systems for railway operations, signalling, telecommunications, and safety.

This project, with an investment of EUR 125.5 million, aims to replace the existing access route to Ourense, enhancing rail connectivity between Galicia and central Spain while increasing capacity and reliability. Construction is divided into two segments: the Taboadela-Rante tunnel section (5.6 km) and the Rante Tunnel-Seixalbo link section (2.3 km), which includes a newly completed 356-meter viaduct over the N-525 road and the Barbañam River.

The Ourense Outer bypass is funded through the European Union’s Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan as part of NextGenerationEU. Click es/195 for the tunnelbuider archive and also visit https://www.adifaltavelocidad.es. 45/24.