Spanish logistics and transport companies are interested in extending the Madrid-Valencia rolling highway to Valladolid, according to the country’s Ministry of Transport Oscar Puente. The idea of extending the service is tightly linked to the construction of a new rail freight terminal in Valladolid which should be operational by 2026.
Other than extending the rolling highway to Valladolid, Puente pointed out that companies are also interested in establishing a new Madrid-Valladolid route that would connect to Algeciras, in the south, and Zaragoza, in the northeast. However, a decision on either matter has not yet been made.
The Valladolid Railway Complex
The future Valladolid Railway Complex terminal will cover 230,000 square metres and will be equipped with seven tracks of more than 750 metres. Moreover, the facility will also have a loading-unloading and storage area for containers and semi-trailers with two more tracks of 750 metres, which could be used for the extended rolling highway. Other than rail freight operations, 2,300 square metres of the terminal will be reserved for a maintenance hub which will be managed by Adif.
The Valladolid Eastern Variant
In addition to the future terminal, works are underway for the so-called Eastern Variant in Valladolid. This is a project aiming at removing all freight trains from the city centre and moving them along the line connecting Madrid and Hendaye, in France, running on the east side of Valladolid. Between the Valladolid Railway Complex and the Eastern Variant, Spain is investing almost 450 million euros, 300 million euros for the former and 139 million for the latter.