Page 447 - 360.revista de Alta Velocidad - Nº 6

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número 6 - junio - 2018. Pág 445 - 453

Evolution of the role of the Consultant Engineer in

High-speed Railway Projects along the last 25 years, in Spain

Escobar, Adrián

Rico, Enrique

Escobar, Jorge

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid 1
IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture

Abstract

Over the last 25 years, the design of High-speed Lines in Spain has undergone an important
evolution, which has been enhanced by the multitude of High-speed kilometers that
have been built throughout the National territory, and by the multitude of problems and
constraints, of very different nature, which have been identified as challenges and have
resolved in a favorable way. IDOM having participate in 2,300 kilometers around the world as
a specialized firm in the design and supervision of works for construction of High-speed lines,
has lived first hand this evolution, contributing through its different projects and studies, to
the development of the current Spanish High-speed model. In addition, it has subsequently
been able to export the Spanish model, as a more appropriate solution, to other European
Union countries, such as Poland and Sweden. Throughout this presentation, a brief review of
the variation of design over the last 25 years will be made, quoting different projects that
were engineering milestones, such as: the Basic Design and Works Supervision of the stretch
Lalín - Santiago with 47 km in length; as well as the Detail Design and Works Supervision of
the sub-section of Alcántara-Garrovillas Reservoir, which includes the Almonte viaduct, with
a 384 m central arch, which is the world's longest span for a High-speed arch bridge. On the
other hand, a short review will be done later on the major international projects of great
relevance, which have currently been or will be designed, having the Spanish High-speed
model as one of its main reference bases. The main objective of this presentation is to show
the particular vision of the Consultant Engineer on the historical evolution experienced by
the Spanish High-speed rail network, and to highlight the great strengths presented by the
Spanish concept of design.

Keywords: Civil engineering evolution, Spanish High-speed rail, railway challenges

1 Escobar, Adrián. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Email: aescobar@idom.com
Rico, Enrique. IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture. Email: eri@idom.com (corresponding author)
Escobar, Jorge. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Email: jescobar@idom.com

International Congress on High-speed Rail: Technologies and Long Term Impacts - Ciudad Real (Spain) - 25th anniversary Madrid-Sevilla corridor 445