The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, through Adif, has received authorization from the Council of Ministers to tender a 13.22 million euro contract (excluding VAT) for the construction of the new European gauge changer in Vila-seca. This contract includes the execution of safety installations and the new turnouts at the Vila-seca junction.

According to the Spanish Government, this infrastructure is vital to guarantee the continuity of passenger services on the R16 line of Rodalies de Barcelona up to Tortosa. Currently, Adif is adapting the Castelló – Vila-seca junction section to international gauge, an action that also affects the Tortosa branch line.

Once completed, the Castelló – Vila-seca junction section will exclusively feature international gauge. From this junction to Sant Vicenç de Calders, the installation of the third rail is planned to provide mixed gauge, allowing trains with both axle sizes to circulate.

This will allow R16 railway services originating in Tortosa to run on international gauge until the Vila-seca junction, where they will perform the gauge change to continue the journey on Iberian gauge to Barcelona, maintaining their current coastal route via Tarragona and Vilanova i la Geltrú.