The Spanish ministry of transport is distributing 40,7 million euros to 45 companies for 44 projects aimed at boosting intermodality in the country. The projects include “construction of intermodal terminals, the use of zero-emission fuels, and the deployment of sustainable pavements and safe parking”.
According to the ministry, this initiative will generate investments for 106 million euros, thus co-financing around 40 per cent of them. “The funded projects must be effectively implemented by 31 March 2026”. The vast majority of the funds, 36,5 million euros, will be assigned to private companies covering 40 of the 44 projects.
The scheme will support five areas: railway interoperability, promoting transport intermodality, safe, sustainable, and connected road transport, sustainable maritime transport, and digitalisation of transport.
Over 15 million euros for rail projects
When it comes to railway interoperability, 1,9 million euros will be invested for the development of variable gauge axles. Interestingly enough, these initiatives will focus on developing systems for locomotives with a triple gauge: Iberian (1668 mm), standard (1435 mm) and broad (1520 mm).
The promotion of intermodality will take the form of the construction or renovation of nine terminals for a total of 14,6 million euros. The facilities will be equipped with a standard gauge (1435 mm), electrified and their tracks will be extended. For example, an intermodal terminal will be built near Mieres, south of Gijón, which will be connected to a mixed-gauge section and will have 1,238 metre-long tracks. For this specific project, 3 million euros will be allocated.
Focus on ports
A big highlight is also placed on ports. The port of Cartagena, in the southeast, will receive 3,26 million euros “to implement a power supply service for ships at the Juan Sebastián el Cano cruise ship dock”, the ministry explained. With these systems, ships docking there will be able to connect to the power grid at the port, without having to use their own engines.
Moreover, the port of Huelva, in the southwest, has been awarded almost 460,000 euros for “the digitalisation of storage services and access control to public docks”. The port of Valencia, together with five private companies, was assigned 1,56 million euros also to improve digitalisation.
Other noteworthy projects include the production of sustainable road pavements for a total of 7,6 million euros, plus 6,7 million for the construction of safer parking areas. Finally, a little over 700,000 euros will be spent for “the deployment of a renewable hydrogen refuelling infrastructure network for heavy transport”, the ministry concluded.
