The Mediterranean Corridor is a trans-European rail line that provides faster, more economical and cleaner transport in comparison to sea and air freight.
The Mediterranean Corridor is of crucial importance for the future of Catalonia because it is a means of opening up its trade to the European market, driving Catalan exports to Europe and Africa, making Catalan companies more competitive.
Furthermore, it will reactivate the ports of Barcelona and Tarragona and will generate wealth and jobs for the Catalans.
Furthermore, it will reactivate the ports of Barcelona and Tarragona and will generate wealth and jobs for the Catalans.
The Mediterranean Corridor has been approved by the EU instead of the Trans-Pyrenean Corridor option, which is promoted by the Government of Spain, despite the fact that the Mediterranean Corridor is much more profitable with advantages including:
The areas traversed by the Mediterranean Corridor are the most economically dynamic, the cost of transport is cheaper, the investment needed is much lower, it is the shortest way to central Europe from any point on the track, and it is the natural passage of entry for goods from Asia.
However, the Spanish government continues to call for the Trans-Pyrenean Corridor to be built, along with an infrastructure based on a radial system centred on Madrid. The Ministry of Development has never clearly committed to the Mediterranean Corridor and has never rejected the construction of alternatives, and there are many short- and long-term investment shortfalls for the Mediterranean Corridor as projected by the Spanish Government.
If Catalonia had had decision-making power over the Mediterranean Corridor, this would have been deployed 20 years ago, with the economic advantages that this would have had for Catalonia. It would have been possible to find private operators such as SNCF and Deutsche Bahn to finance the Catalan section and accelerate the works by mean of the huge logistical savings obtained, thus avoiding the Spanish government's obstruction.
If Catalonia were an independent state, it would be able to drive, jointly with its neighbours Spain and France, a single managing organization for the ports of the Mediterranean, from Marseilles to Algeciras, passing through the ports of Tarragona, Castelló, València, etc.—with Barcelona operating as a multimodal airport, seaport, road and rail hub.
Joan Cabanas
CCNArticle related: The Western Mediterranean branch of Freight Rail Great Axis
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