The Spanish Minister for Transport and Mobility, José Luis Ábalos, and the president of state-owned railway infrastructure manager ADIF, Isabel Pardo de Vera, today announced large investments to adapt the Zaragoza-Algeciras railway line as a rolling highway for piggyback transportation. The project is the result of a joint initiative of the Autonomous Regions of Aragon and Andalusia, following an agreement signed in 2017.
The new railway connection will be a gateway to African markets for companies from the South of Europe, and vice versa. Morocco already is one of Aragon’s most important trade partners.
It will also consolidate Aragon’s position as the main hinterland port in Spain, as the region will be connected by train to all main ports of the Iberian peninsula.
Piggybacking of semi-trailers by rail offers important economic and environmental benefits. Ferroutage services are already working on several European transit routes.
The 100-million-euro investment announced today will allow to increase the loading gauge height of the railway line to AF 4.2 standard, which is crucial for the accommodation of double stack convoys.
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