Spain is considering building a new rail terminal just outside its largest port in Algeciras to accommodate the current demand growth. Rail services at the port are currently limited by “the 350-metre train length limit at some of its terminals and the lack of sufficient sidings for rail maneuvers”, the ministry of transport said.
The idea is to build the new terminal in the Botafuegos area, 11 kilometres west of the port of Algeciras along the line to Bobadilla. It needs to be mentioned that these are still the very early stages. The Spanish government, via the ministry, approved an Informative Study that estimated 62 million euros as the total cost to build the facility.
Expanding rail capacity within the port is not possible, the ministry underlined. Therefore, “it is necessary to consider a terminal or technical facility outside the port area”. The project selected in the Informative Study would see the construction of five new sidings. In addition, there would be a new line, stretching for 3.65 kilometres connecting directly into the port.
Waiting for the rail highway
Upgrading rail connectivity to the port of Algeciras is a key step towards implementing the long-awaited rail highway service to Zaragoza, one of the main logistics hubs in Spain. Initially planned to start running in 2024, the opening of the Algeciras-Zaragoza rail highway was indefinitely postponed and then re-scheduled for the end of 2026.
Earlier statements sais that traffic along the Zaragoza-Madrid section would start at the beginning of this year, but nothing has yet happened. Reaching Algeciras, is a little more problematic due to infrastructure limitations that are still being taken care of. Concerning rolling stock, all seven locomotives that will be powering the rail highway train loaded with semi-trailers have already been delivered.
European Cargo Experience
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