Work on the Mediterranean corridor in Spain

The status of the Mediterranean Corridor development works in Spain

Work on the Mediterranean corridor in Spain Adif

Adif, the Spanish infrastructure manager, provided data on the development of the Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor since 2018 for the four regions it will cross: Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia. Once completed, the Mediterranean Corridor in Spain will run along the country’s southern and eastern coasts, continuing all the way to Hungary and crossing Europe from west to east – and back.

Spain has allocated over 4,4 billion euros in 300 actions to develop the Mediterranean Corridor between June 2018 and now. These numbers reflect the trend of one action per week, which is an unprecedented pace for Spain. According to Adif, “100 per cent of the preliminary studies have been completed and 75 per cent of the works are underway”.

These investments have surely paid off, as the data provided by Adif shows. In 2018, preliminary studies were carried out for 60 per cent of the projects, while today they are all complete. Moreover, construction of the projects was at 45 per cent, while, currently, it stands at 75 per cent. Significant efforts have especially been made throughout the first nine months of 2022. Over 1,5 billion euros have been tendered, 900 million euros have been awarded, and 450 million have been already executed.

The Mediterranean Corridor is one of the eleven Rail Freight Corridors in Europe appointed by the European Commission, which aim to form a strong European-wide network for competitive freight transport by rail.

Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor
Map of the total Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor, image: MRFC

A closer look to the trends in the four regions

In the Spanish region of Andalusia, the Mediterranean Corridor will run for 574 kilometres. Back in 2018, only 114 kilometres of the section were developed and no section was complete. Currently, on the other hand, said 114 kilometres have been completed and the remaining 460 have been developed. In the Murcia region, the corridor will cover 226 kilometres. In 2018, only 17 kilometres of the section were being developed. As of September 2022, 193 kilometres are under development and the remaining 33 have been already completed.

In Valencia, the corridor will extend over 717 kilometres. Four years ago, only 114 kilometres were developed and 163 were completed. Today, 488 kilometres have been developed and 229 finished. As far as it concerns Catalonia, the corridor will continue for 664 kilometres. In this region, over 520 kilometres of the corridor have been completed, with the remaining 144 under development. In 2018, the situation was different: 475 kilometres were complete, 45 were under development, and the remaining 144 were without any progress.

What’s next for the corridor?

One of the key developments in the Mediterranean Corridor in Spain is the adaptation to high-speed of the rail section between Xativa and Nudo de la Encina, southwest of Valencia. After an investment of around 413 million euros, the route is currently being tested with a train that can run at up to 200 km/h.

Once the testing phase is over, the works for doubling the track can be carried out. The total investment for doubling the Xativa-Nudo de la Encina section is estimated at 187 million euros, with Adif claiming it has already assigned two procurements for the execution. This section is important because it will connect the peninsular southeast with the northeast and the rest of Europe.

A version of this article first appeared on sister publication RailFreight.com

Read more:

Author: Marco Raimondi

Marco Raimondi is an editor of RailFreight.com, the online magazine for rail freight professionals.

2 comments op “The status of the Mediterranean Corridor development works in Spain”

spv1093|16.11.22|18:50

Standard gauge, 1435 mm?

bönström bönström|18.11.22|10:58

Good question!
However, any such, simple, technicalities…, is for “brusselcrats”.
Questions raised from others, limited is – for “offers” – by separate bodies “RFC5”, etc… Pls read and understand!
(Any obvious “bottlenecks”, by standards no longer optimal, etc., as currently, decisively shall be “cemented”!)
Now, regrettably, Commission is disregarding Goal of “Union”…
Even worse, never no longer Goal of EU, is mentioned… (“Railways” is Goal…)

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The status of the Mediterranean Corridor development works in Spain | RailTech.com
Work on the Mediterranean corridor in Spain

The status of the Mediterranean Corridor development works in Spain

Work on the Mediterranean corridor in Spain Adif

Adif, the Spanish infrastructure manager, provided data on the development of the Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor since 2018 for the four regions it will cross: Andalusia, Murcia, Valencia, and Catalonia. Once completed, the Mediterranean Corridor in Spain will run along the country’s southern and eastern coasts, continuing all the way to Hungary and crossing Europe from west to east – and back.

Spain has allocated over 4,4 billion euros in 300 actions to develop the Mediterranean Corridor between June 2018 and now. These numbers reflect the trend of one action per week, which is an unprecedented pace for Spain. According to Adif, “100 per cent of the preliminary studies have been completed and 75 per cent of the works are underway”.

These investments have surely paid off, as the data provided by Adif shows. In 2018, preliminary studies were carried out for 60 per cent of the projects, while today they are all complete. Moreover, construction of the projects was at 45 per cent, while, currently, it stands at 75 per cent. Significant efforts have especially been made throughout the first nine months of 2022. Over 1,5 billion euros have been tendered, 900 million euros have been awarded, and 450 million have been already executed.

The Mediterranean Corridor is one of the eleven Rail Freight Corridors in Europe appointed by the European Commission, which aim to form a strong European-wide network for competitive freight transport by rail.

Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor
Map of the total Mediterranean Rail Freight Corridor, image: MRFC

A closer look to the trends in the four regions

In the Spanish region of Andalusia, the Mediterranean Corridor will run for 574 kilometres. Back in 2018, only 114 kilometres of the section were developed and no section was complete. Currently, on the other hand, said 114 kilometres have been completed and the remaining 460 have been developed. In the Murcia region, the corridor will cover 226 kilometres. In 2018, only 17 kilometres of the section were being developed. As of September 2022, 193 kilometres are under development and the remaining 33 have been already completed.

In Valencia, the corridor will extend over 717 kilometres. Four years ago, only 114 kilometres were developed and 163 were completed. Today, 488 kilometres have been developed and 229 finished. As far as it concerns Catalonia, the corridor will continue for 664 kilometres. In this region, over 520 kilometres of the corridor have been completed, with the remaining 144 under development. In 2018, the situation was different: 475 kilometres were complete, 45 were under development, and the remaining 144 were without any progress.

What’s next for the corridor?

One of the key developments in the Mediterranean Corridor in Spain is the adaptation to high-speed of the rail section between Xativa and Nudo de la Encina, southwest of Valencia. After an investment of around 413 million euros, the route is currently being tested with a train that can run at up to 200 km/h.

Once the testing phase is over, the works for doubling the track can be carried out. The total investment for doubling the Xativa-Nudo de la Encina section is estimated at 187 million euros, with Adif claiming it has already assigned two procurements for the execution. This section is important because it will connect the peninsular southeast with the northeast and the rest of Europe.

A version of this article first appeared on sister publication RailFreight.com

Read more:

Author: Marco Raimondi

Marco Raimondi is an editor of RailFreight.com, the online magazine for rail freight professionals.

2 comments op “The status of the Mediterranean Corridor development works in Spain”

spv1093|16.11.22|18:50

Standard gauge, 1435 mm?

bönström bönström|18.11.22|10:58

Good question!
However, any such, simple, technicalities…, is for “brusselcrats”.
Questions raised from others, limited is – for “offers” – by separate bodies “RFC5”, etc… Pls read and understand!
(Any obvious “bottlenecks”, by standards no longer optimal, etc., as currently, decisively shall be “cemented”!)
Now, regrettably, Commission is disregarding Goal of “Union”…
Even worse, never no longer Goal of EU, is mentioned… (“Railways” is Goal…)

Add your comment

characters remaining.

Log in through one of the following social media partners to comment.