Convensa has completed the Vilecha gauge changer project in the province of León, after completing its connection to the future double track section.

This 41.5 km duplication reinforces an essential part of the Atlantic Corridor and Asturias' connection to the high-speed network. Once this work is complete, the high-speed line between the capitals of Palencia and León will have double track along 75% of its route, thus increasing its reliability and capacity to accommodate a greater number of trains to and from Asturias and León.

The works include the laying of a second track alongside the existing one and its electrification on the section between the municipality of Bercianos del Real Camino in León (the Las Arenas railway junction) and approximately 7 km south of León (the Vilecha junction).

The Villada (in Palencia) train passing and parking facility (PAET) will also be upgraded, with the deployment of a second siding and its connections and turnouts.

This reopening will particularly benefit rail connections between Madrid and Asturias, which will no longer have to reverse direction, allowing travel times to be reduced by up to 15 minutes. During this phase of the works, track 2 and the Vilecha gauge changer have been connected to the new double track section under construction, while rail service has been maintained on track 1.

The facilities associated with the Las Arenas sidings have also been adapted to the new double track section, the interlocking software (signalling equipment that allows remote and real-time management of a railway section) has been updated, tests have been carried out on the new configuration and progress has been made on the Trobajo del Cerecedo overpass.