Business leaders and the governments of Aragon and the Valencian Community formed a coalition to press for a faster Cantabria-Mediterranean Corridor, seeing it as essential rail infrastructure for freight and regional development. The meeting took place on a Thursday in Zaragoza, organized by CEOE Aragon and the Valencian Community Business Confederation (CEV). The presidents of both associations, Miguel Marzo and Salvador Navarro, attended, along with regional leaders Javier Lambán and Ximo Puig.
Marzo and Lambán stressed the need to accelerate modernization on the Zaragoza-Teruel-Sagunto route. The plan aims to increase weekly freight trains to 55 from the current 27, delivering greater capacity for cargo moving through the corridor.
The head of the Generalitat highlighted that the Cantabrian-Med Corridor had lingered in the background for too long, but the era of neglect is over. He credited a century of business pressure for turning the corridor into a serious priority alongside the Mediterranean Corridor. He added that this is proof the corridor is finally being treated with the seriousness it deserves.
Ximo Puig stated that the Sagunt-Teruel-Zaragoza line has a plan, funding, and a schedule. He cautioned that progress must be rapid, while insisting there should be no turning back, no central myopia, and no outdated, narrow thinking about regional links.
According to Puig, the central government should implement this alternative vision boldly, a course that the Valencian Community and Aragon have long demanded. He argued that it would be more efficient for the economy and would position Spain within a new European network of corridors, linking maritime gateways with inland hubs. He framed this as a historic shift away from a radial pattern that has characterized Spain for centuries.
Given that the Valencian Community, Aragon, Navarra, La Rioja, the Basque Country, and Cantabria together host about 22 percent of Spain’s population, roughly 10 million people, Puig underscored the electrification of the line as a fact backed by strong data. He also noted that the region accounts for about 30 percent of industrial GDP, thousands of companies, and a sizable share of employment, reinforcing the case for urgent investment in improved rail capacity.
Puig urged that an infrastructure project capable of moving beyond conventional boundaries and showcasing the real strength of Spain be pursued without hesitation. He argued that a modest investment could yield substantial returns: once electrified, the line would reduce emissions, enhance intermodal transport, and boost overall traffic. He recalled joint advocacy with Lambán in Brussels back in 2018 to secure European financing for the Sagunt-Zaragoza connection.
The Valencian leader asserted that all stakeholders stand to gain from this investment. Aragón would gain the means to diversify its massive logistics flows, while Valencia would strengthen its role as a gateway to countless ports worldwide. The project would also finish important links that position the region as a prime investment zone.
Puig highlighted Volkswagen’s decision as a key example, noting that Sagunto completes a strategic triangle with connections to Martorell and Landaben through the corridor network. This shows that international competitiveness hinges on strong, efficient transport links.
The head of the Generalitat stressed that Volkswagen’s choice reinforces the need to accelerate both corridors. He argued that the move represents more than inertia but a strategic shift that will energize the peninsula and attract new opportunities and investments.
Regional rebalancing
In this context, Puig called for urgent alliances among governments, businesses, and civil society, aiming to minimize gaps and create more hubs across the peninsula. He described this as the best way to rebalance regions and respond to demographic challenges by expanding European power networks.
Puig also touched on the importance of advancing a shared agenda focused on strategic infrastructures and common industrial, logistical, and economic interests. He emphasized addressing depopulation in large areas of both the Valencian Community and Aragon, arguing that coordinated action could secure a brighter future for the entire region. [Attribution: Valencian regional government]