ArcelorMittal Annual Report 2008

By 2012, Spain is expected
to have the largest high
speed rail network in the
world, with over 2,200 km.
By 2020, its length will reach
10,000 km, which means that
90% of the Spanish population
will live within a distance
of 50 km of a high speed train
station. ArcelorMittal Asturias
is supplying the rails for the
project, meeting the stringent
quality controls that enable
these trains to travel safely
at 350 km/h.
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The first high-speed rail line in Spain,
linking Madrid and Seville, was
commissioned in 1992. Since then,
the proven quality of the rails produced
by ArcelorMittal has led to them
being chosen for all high speed rail
tracks currently in service in Spain.
The production of these rails requires
very stringent controls; they have
to meet exacting requirements in terms
of durability, cost, minimum acoustic
impact, passenger comfort and safety.
The Rail Mill operated by ArcelorMittal
Asturias has an annual production
capacity of 250,000 tonnes and can
roll rails in lengths of up to 90 meters.
It has supplied over 500,000 tonnes
of high-speed rails which have also been
installed in France, Germany and Turkey,
amongst other countries.