On March 5, 2017 the new Loiola station of Metro Donostialdea, the popular «Topo», has entered into service.
The station is built on a viaduct, with platforms on both sides. And between them, a double diagonal of 48.5 meters in length, designed and manufactured by Amurrio Ferrocarril y Equipos, S.A.
The device, which consists of four single turnouts placed in an X-shape to allow trains to pass from one track to the parallel one, is mounted on concrete sleepers and has roller slides, which improve the operation of the switches and reduce maintenance requirements.
The time frame for the execution of this work was only three months, including design, modeling, materials collection, fabrication, pre-assembly in the factory and delivery.
This is an exceptionally short time for a device of these characteristics, and has required an important effort for the Amurrio organization.
Although the assembly of the double diagonal has been carried out by the UTE (Unión Temporal de Empresas) that built the station, the collaboration and support from Amurrio has been intense and constant, providing its knowledge and flexibility in the application of solutions to the various problems that a project of these characteristics poses.
In addition to the double diagonal, Amurrio has also supplied the necessary expansion devices, and has been in charge of the placement of the roller slides to guarantee their optimal operation.
Metro Donostialdea is the evolution of Euskotren’s «Line 2», popularly known as «El Topo», which links the municipalities of Lasarte-Oria, San Sebastian, Pasajes, Renteria, Oiarzun, Irun and Hendaye, the latter in French territory.
The inauguration of the line to Irun took place in 1912, and in 1913 it reached Hendaye. The line began to be called «metro» in October 2012, when the Intxaurrondo station was opened and the track between Loiola and Herrera was doubled and improved, thus being able to improve the frequency of trains.
The renovation of Loiola station began in December 2014. The entire project will conclude with the removal of the old station, west access of platform 2 and the urbanization of the area. This will free up a lot of space for the neighborhood, which will no longer be divided.
More information:
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