After the Napoleonic Invasions in the nineteenth century, the attention dedicated to the military defense of European territory grew. This strategic concern had a direct impact on choosing locations for various railway stations, especially in border zones. One of the most representative cases is in Spain, close to the line that separates the country from France.
A grand station on unstable land
The Canfranc Railway Station, located in the Aragon Autonomous Community, was inaugurated in 1928, assuming at the time as a milestone of modernist engineering. With a façade that includes over 150 doors and 350 windows, the building stands out in the Pirenic landscape. Nowadays, it has been converted into a luxury hotel and is often cited as one of the worse location railway stations in the world.
The construction took place in an area where five torrential flow streams converge in the Aragão River. This area is particularly sensitive to natural phenomena such as landslides and avalanches, which makes it vulnerable to natural disasters. Over time, the need to face these risks has led to the development of various mitigation works.
Adaptation to new climate requirements
According to the portal, the increase in extreme weather phenomena related to climate change, such as heavy and localized rainfall, made it pressing sustainable solutions.
The Canfranc region was therefore the target of a comprehensive forest engineering plan to reduce natural risks and protect both the local population and the thousands of travelers crossing that border zone.
Among the adopted measures include reforestation of slopes with plant species adapted to the altitude climate, with the objective of stabilizing soils and decreasing the effects of erosion. Structures such as containment walls, dikes and snow accumulators were also implemented to reinforce safety.
Military decision with natural costs
The Arañones Plain, where the station is located, was chosen based on military defense criteria, for offering strategic advantages. However, this decision implied building in a high risk area. Engineering has since sought to minimize impacts, reinforcing safety without compromising the landscape frame.
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Prior to stabilization interventions, the surrounding slopes were covered by loose debris that often caused accidents. In the early decades of the twentieth century there were several landslides that reached essential housing and infrastructure. These episodes were determinant for the implementation of a structured response plan.
Continuous investment in prevention
The works of Forest and Hydraulic Engineering carried out in Canfranc had a significant public investment. For years, the budget intended for maintenance and new interventions annually exceeded one million peses, allowing us to test innovative solutions to prevent natural disasters.
Engineer Benito Ayerbe played a central role in developing these structures. More recently, engineer Ignacio Pérez-Soba has analyzed these interventions, considering them exemplary in a context of aggravation of climate change and increased frequency of extreme phenomena.
Integrated alternatives in nature
According to Pérez-Soba, many of the current problems require a balanced conjugation between classical civil engineering and biological engineering. This approach proposes solutions that respect natural morphology and bring sustainable advantages to the environment and the safety of populations.
There are currently over 500 protection structures around Canfranc Station. These continue to play an essential role in protecting the area, functioning as a reference in similar situations, such as recent floods in Spanish Mediterranean locations, namely in Father, in Valencia province.
Applicable strategies in other regions
Despite the differences between pyrenees and the Mediterranean zones, the principles implemented in Canfranc are considered replicable in other contexts. Reforestation of the high and intermediate zones of water courses is one of the recommended strategies, as trees absorb part of rainwater and attenuate the impact of floods.
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