On November 13th, Teixeira Duarte – Engenharia e Construções, S.A. and SOMAFEL – Engenharia e Obras Ferroviárias, S.A. signed – in consortium with CONDURIL – Engenharia, S.A. – a contract to modernise the section of the Beira Alta Line, between Celorico da Beira and Guarda, for IP – Infraestruturas de Portugal, S.A., for approximately 53 million Euros.

The work on this section of the Beira Alta line is being carried out as part of the “Ferrovia 2020” programme, co-financed by the European Union, to enable the expansion and modernisation of the National Rail Network.

The contract includes work on the complete renewal of the track superstructure on a section of approximately 46 kilometres, raising, widening and extending the platforms at Celorico da Beira, Pinhel, Vila Franca das Naves and Guarda stations, in order to improve the mobility and access conditions for passengers, as well as work to change the layout at these stations, making it possible to operate trains of 750 metres in length and to increase the number of circulations, which optimises operating conditions, as well as building the respective unevenness and re-establishment, for crossing alternatives, ensuring better safety conditions for users.

It should be remembered that, in 2019, Teixeira Duarte – Engenharia e Construções and SOMAFEL had also participated in the complete renewal of 14 kilometres of track on the Beira Alta Line, namely in the Guarda-Cerdeira sub-section of the Guarda-Vilar Formoso section.