An Overview of the Atlantic and Mediterranean Corridors in Spain
The Minister of State Responsible for Infrastructure, David Lucas, addressed northwestern business leaders this morning with an urging to act proactively. The goal was to gather project ideas within the framework of railway and highway developments tied to the Atlantic Corridor. This message followed his inauguration on Wednesday and aligned with Corridor 360 Days, a review of the state and challenges of trans-European transport corridors conducted at the Global Mobility Appeal hosted by the IFEMA pavilion in Madrid.
Earlier, during a meeting with Northwestern businessmen on the 17th, Lucas warned that no proposals had yet been submitted for railway highways within this corridor. He explained that adopting a strategy of moving goods by rail would reduce carbon emissions and extend the reach of freight. He noted that most submitted projects were aligned with the Mediterranean Corridor rather than the northwest of the peninsula, and he encouraged proposals to balance this. He stressed that planning and investment for constructing the European rail network is a task supported by administrations, but that active public action is essential. He called for a robust public-private collaboration to turn this effort into a tangible reality for companies, ensuring low emission transport with sustainability and growth as guiding principles.
Lucas opened the day with several interventions and roundtable discussions. He highlighted the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda’s commitment to invest more than 27 billion euros by 2030 to structure the Iberian Peninsula with a multi-modal and prioritized infrastructure. He described corridors as levers enabling greater efficiency for companies and stronger connectivity for citizens.
An “oiled” system
The participation of all relevant parties was seen as crucial because investments in infrastructure, aid programs, and national and European financing mechanisms are necessary but not sufficient. The system must function smoothly, with all stakeholders actively engaged. The Ministry confirmed its ongoing commitment to promoting both the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors, implementing changes gradually to ensure steady progress.
The Pajares Bypass opening marked a turning point for the Northwest Corridor, which covers eleven communities and more than 5,300 kilometers. The aim is to mobilize 16,000 million euros by 2030, with 1,648 million allocated in the current year’s budgets. Projects listed include the Basque Y project, the Burgos-Vitoria line, the Zaragoza-Pamplona and Pamplona-Vitoria axes, the third lane between León and La Robla, and road renewals linking León and Vitoria. Other efforts include renovating the Vigo to Vigo-La Coruña connection, updating Madrid to Seville routes, and enhancing goods and logistics terminals in Jerez and Badajoz.
Mediterranean Corridor: priority and Europe alignment
When both corridors were evaluated, a clear distinction emerged: the Mediterranean Corridor is more developed and forms a key European strategic lane. Wojciech Sopinski, speaking for the European coordinator of the Mediterranean corridor, Iveta Radičová, described a link to Ukraine that facilitates grain transport to the Adriatic and aims to create a corridor rich in tourism and freight potential. This is presented as a strategic project that will become Spain’s primary route to connect with Europe.
Josep-Vicent Boira, the Spanish Government’s Mediterranean Corridor Commissioner, noted the axis momentum since its inclusion in European plans. Between 2018 and 2023, a large portion of work and investment advanced along this corridor, with billions tendered and deployed. This momentum continues into 2023 and beyond, as multiple tenders and works progress across the axis.
Carlo Secchi, the European coordinator for the Atlantic Corridor which runs along the western coast of Europe, highlighted the need for intensified cooperation and cross-border coordination between corridors. He pointed to the Spain-Portugal connection, with Madrid and Lisbon potentially linked in under three hours, as a sign of progress that should be completed by 2030. Adif’s president, Maria Luisa Domínguez, reaffirmed determination to reach these goals, noting that some Asturias improvements may require extending metering connections to the El Musel port.
Acceleration toward full speed
The Atlantic Corridor Government Commissioner, José Antonio Sebastian Ruiz, stated that a very advanced master plan would be presented soon. He began by commemorating the Pajares Bypass and described it as one of the world’s most significant tunnels. He noted that two countries share this distinction for tunnels on a single podium: Spain, Switzerland, and China. He reviewed ongoing railway expansion and stressed the Atlantic Corridor’s growth, while recognizing that it must be balanced with the Mediterranean route. The corridor, he noted, serves a region and a population representing two-thirds of the country, and it is poised to gain significant momentum while ensuring connectivity for regions that might otherwise be underserved.
He outlined that of 81 railway actions, 47 relate to the Atlantic Corridor. Of these, 17 are in draft, 7 are in the public information phase, 6 are in the environmental impact stage, and 17 are already approved and moving toward implementation. In total, transport investments for this corridor total approximately 26.69 billion euros, with railways receiving about 16.08 billion, roads 3.61 billion, ports 4.54 billion, and airports 2.64 billion.
The Corridors 360 Conference offered a comprehensive review of Europe’s mobility challenges, featuring companies, management teams, and experts. As Carlo Secchi emphasized, ensuring a unified and coordinated transport network across Europe remains a fundamental component of the European single market, established at its very core.
Lucas reaffirmed the importance of public-private cooperation and broad corporate participation to unlock the full potential of the corridors. He urged openness to corridors as a catalyst for change, expressing hope that participants would embrace the shift. Some opportunities are already available, while others will emerge over the next four years. He described these as levers that will boost efficiency for companies and enhance connectivity for citizens.