Interview with Luis Ubalde
Luis Ubalde is a civil engineer and holds a PhD from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC). With a professional career marked from the beginning by his railway vocation, while he was associate professor at the UPC and research engineer at the Centre for Transport Innovation (CENIT), he participated in different research projects, related to the railway, for the Ministry of Public Works, the European Investment Bank, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya and other entities. In 2005, he joined Ineco, where he worked on the construction of the Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona-French border high-speed railway line in Catalonia. He is currently a lecturer on the Master's Degree in Railway Systems and Electric Traction at the UPC and a writer.
Name
Luis Ubalde Claver
But... how do they use to call you at home?
My children (5 and 7 years old) are imaginative and call me names according to their moods (and mine).
What do you do at Ineco?
I am in charge of the technical coordination of the Sagrera-Sant Andreu operation: this is a mega-construction project to build the future intermodal station of La Sagrera (Barcelona) and a new part of the city where a population of 25,000 inhabitants will live. Where there used to be open tracks, there will be a huge station in a 1 kilometre long building, which will be integrated into a 40 HA urban park.
When did you join the company?
I am an old hand: I joined in 2005 when the high-speed line was being built around Barcelona. Since then, except for a period of 2 years at IDOM, I have been working (and learning a lot) at Ineco, being a member of Adif Alta Velocidad teams.
You have just published "Un viaje por la historia ferroviaria de Catalunya”. Can you tell us how this new book came about?
The book arose out of a need to highlight the value of the legacy we have received and, at the same time, to testify to the general public the epic nature of the work involved in putting a new railway infrastructure into service. This double need, fuelled by my love of railways and history, and by the collaboration of the Fundación de los Ferrocarriles Españoles, Adif and Renfe, set in motion the springs of willpower to to have less sleep than one needs and write.
How can we get the book?
The book is available through the Efadós publishing house, bookshops and general internet sales websites.
Already have the next one in mind?
I have some ideas boiling around in my mind and they induce me to write, but time is very limited. However spirited the rebellion that fuels a literary project, the limitation of time is inexorable.
What would you highlight about the company?
From my experience, I can say that Ineco is a company that has given me the opportunity to take part in major actions that have a huge impact on the well-being of society. I value the sense of providing a service to society, beyond adding to a profit and loss account, without detriment to ensuring efficient economic management. And of course, I feel very fortunate for the Ineco and Adif team with whom I work at La Sagrera: for their high commitment, team spirit and professionalism, I would like to express my admiration and gratitude to them here.
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