The Northwest is increasingly isolated in a shifting map of alliances. What began with Cantabria withdrawing from the Northwest Atlantic Platform to align with the Basque Country in the Cantabrian-Mediterranean axis, between Bilbao and Valencia, now extends to Zaragoza and Madrid, with ministers from France and the Mediterranean seeking fresh partnerships to widen the split, drawing in Galicia, Asturias, and León. The Aragonese capital is rallying support to become a major rail logistics hub on the peninsula, backing the reopening of the Zaragoza-Pau line via Canfranc, while Madrid pursues a new Paris-Madrid-Lisbon axis and a high-speed connection from Valencia to Portugal’s capital. In sum, the Northwest appears entangled in political and trade tensions as these realignments unfold.
Zaragoza has created the European Alliance for the Development of Railway Corridors (corredores.eu). Officially, it seeks partners across Spain to advance railway corridors and Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T) to shape the Iberian Peninsula’s connections with Europe, with a 2,000 euro participation fee. In practice, the initiative aims to open a new central cross-border corridor through the Pyrenees.
The core argument for this lobby is that Italy shares seven cross-border rail links with France, Switzerland, and Austria, while France and Spain together only have two through the Basque Country and Catalonia. These routes are often relegated in favor of passenger priorities and capacity constraints, according to promoters of corredores.eu.
Spain’s rail transport network is described as among the least connected in Europe relative to its potential, with ports at a competitive disadvantage compared to other Mediterranean ports. The group has already presented at transport and logistics conferences in Portugal, France, and Spain, including Madrid’s Dry Port. Major Iberian ports such as Algeciras, Córdoba, and Zaragoza are noted as beneficiaries, while ports like Sines, Valencia, Algeciras, Europorte, and Niort are identified as already aligned with the corredores.eu framework.
According to this lobby, rail accounts for only a small share of freight in Spain, about 3.8 percent, highlighting a perceived need to expand carrying capacity, improve operations, and render the rail freight network on the Iberian Peninsula more competitive.
To advance these goals, the alliance advocates for the execution of TEN-T core network corridors and broader development of rail and communication infrastructure. It also emphasizes the importance of multi-sector collaborations among the ports of Spain and Portugal, arguing that much of the freight moved by rail originates or terminates at major ports, airports, and logistics hubs. The aim is to connect the Iberian Peninsula south to central and northern Europe through enhanced rail freight corridors.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s political scene shows the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors converging in policy. Isabel Díaz Ayuso, head of the Madrid region, has launched plans to construct a new axis linking Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon. Among several announced projects, a high-speed railway from Valencia to Lisbon stands out. Ayuso has backed this initiative in meetings with business leaders, framing it as a true Iberian union.
Ayuso’s strategy centers on connecting the Mediterranean and Atlantic corridors with Madrid as a central node. She seeks broad backing to persuade the national government to prioritize this link over the Galicia-Porto route, marking a step forward on November 14 when the initiative gained momentum.
The situation progressed notably when a broader regional alliance linking Madrid and the Île-de-France region signed an understanding to jointly promote projects across environment, innovation, scientific collaboration, and transportation. The goal is to extend these ties with Lisbon in the coming months, with discussions already underway.
The main obstacle for the Madrid president remains the Portuguese government’s stated priority for the Porto-Vigo axis. Valencia, already connected by high-speed passenger trains to Madrid, is pushing ahead on the Mediterranean Corridor and the Cantabrian-Mediterranean axis. Valencian business interests also show openness to a new freight axis toward Lisbon, should it deliver tangible benefits.