The Terminal Intermodal de Navarra (TIN) in Noáin, a few kilometres south of Pamplona, is now operational after being expanded to quadruple its capacity. The facility will be managed by Hutchison Ports’ subsidiary Terminal Catalunya (Tercat) with a concession until 2045.
The project aims at improving connectivity between the region and the port of Barcelona, especially the APM and BEST terminals (the latter also owned by Hutchison Ports). Tercat invested around 10 million euros to expand the facility in Noáin in May 2025.
From 5 to 8 trains
The terminal expansion included two new mixed-gauge tracks of 600 metres in length that can be extended to 750 metres in the future, according to the Spanish infrastructure manager. Moreover, 34,000 square metres of slab were laid out for rail operations and container storage. “The ends of both tracks have also been electrified for greater efficiency in the delivery and collection of railcars”, Adif added.
Currently there are five trains running between Noain and Barcelona, all operated by Hutchison Ports’ rail arm Synergy. “The new facilities quadruple the terminal’s operational capacity and are more efficient. They will be able to handle up to eight trains per day”, Adif explained. Longer tracks and more trains are expected to boost intermodal capacity from 13,710 to 60,000 intermodal transport units.
Ready for rail highway too
In addition to boost intermodal container transport, the new TIN has also been equipped to accommodate rail highway services, where semi-trailers travel on freight trains. To this end, Italian forwarder TransItalia recently showed interest in introducing such links to Noáin and Júndiz (in the Basque Countries) from the ports of Barcelona and Valencia.
Port of Barcelona new shareholder
The Port of Barcelona will not only gain new rail connections to the TIN. Apparently, the port authority purchased 40% of the shares of TIN, according to various Spanish media including El Mercantil. The agreement for the entry of Port of Barcelona in the inland terminal was signed during yesterday’s inauguration of the new facility. The port is not new to such initiatives. This would in fact be the eighth inland terminal where it has a stake.