Spain’s Transportation and Communication Infrastructure
Rail Transport
Specifications
Part of the tracks and equipment has been modernized and is safer. However, there are still poor stretches without access ways, with pending issues or rodeos.
Regional Imbalances
There are clear regional imbalances. The tracks and equipment are mostly in economically dynamic areas (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Valencia). In other regions, there are deficient infrastructure accessibility. The focus is on areas traversed by the AVE and the radial axis of the core network, with minimal attention to border areas.
Environmental Actions
Environmental actions include landscaping, reducing the barrier effect, controlling unused railway heritage, and noise reduction.
Strategic Infrastructure Plan
The Strategic Infrastructure Plan for transport allocates 50% of investments to the railway. The plan includes:
- Improving rail access, security, and travel time.
- Modernizing the conventional and narrow network, extending AVE.
- Increasing nearby passenger traffic.
EU Integration
EU integration performances include transiting by AVE, achieving interoperability and seamless European rail traffic via a high-speed network. It is necessary to eliminate the differences among members in terms of rules. Opening the railway network of member states to European railway companies for national and international transport of goods is also a priority.
Shipping
Spain benefits from its significant coastline and strategic position.
Competencies
Competencies are spread across ports. The static network includes major ports, while autonomous communities manage smaller ports and marinas.
Traffic of Passengers and Goods
There are contrasts in traffic:
- Passengers: low (except for cruises).
- Interior goods: mainly oil derivatives transport.
- International goods: high importance, with imports and exports.
Traditionally, traffic was mostly liquid, demanded by the hinterland. There are large solid mineral resources near ports (Gijon, Ferrol, Huelva) and large liquid resources near petrochemical refineries and industrial ports (Bilbao, Algeciras, Tarragona). Currently, there is more general merchandise traffic, especially containers (Algeciras, Valencia, and Barcelona).
Technical Aspects
Many reforms are needed, including increasing and improving surface access (road and rail).
Regional Imbalances
The traffic of goods depends on competitive advantages. Traffic tends to concentrate in the Port of Algeciras due to its position on overseas routes through the Strait of Gibraltar, in the Palms due to Atlantic routes, and in Barcelona, Valencia, and Bilbao, which have adopted measures to attract business.
Environmental Constraints
Actions are being taken to mitigate the impacts of port operations and ships. Environmental audits will be implemented in ports.
Strategic Plan for Transport Infrastructure
Ports are intended to specialize in merchandise uptake and distribution nodes.
Integration with the EU
Integration with the EU includes the creation of sea motorways (maritime routes with high-capacity vessels between at least two different ports of member countries), offering efficient, regular, and frequent transport of goods capable of competing with road transport in terms of length and price.
River Transport
River transport is limited to the port of Seville in the Guadalquivir, which presents difficulties due to the entry bar (sandbanks) and the Bonanza-Sevilla section (sedimentation).
Air Transport
Air transport has experienced rapid development due to increased income, changes in the spatial organization of the economy, and demand for tourism, business, and professional travel.
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction over airports is spread. The state manages commercial interlead, while autonomous communities manage smaller airports.
Airport Network
The airport network is numerous, with a hierarchical structure. Madrid-Barajas is a hub airport with direct connections to Spanish and major international airports.
Passenger and Freight Traffic
There are contrasts in traffic:
- Passenger: very competitive.
- Goods: low due to high cost.
Territorial Imbalances
The main airports are in economic and tourist towns. Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona El Prat serve as hubs. Airports in the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean coast are important for tourism, while Bilbao is important due to its urban area.
Environmental Actions
Environmental actions include using cleaner and quieter aircraft. Airports and airlines are incorporating environmental management systems.
Strategic Plan for Transport Infrastructure
Airports seek specialization in terms of their benefits. Madrid and Barcelona should function as hubs. The rest should encourage their involvement in intra-building services sector liberalization. The plan aims to improve access to airports.
Integration in the EU
The EU project “Single European Sky” aims to reorganize air traffic to avoid airport congestion.
Intermodal Transport
Intermodal transport involves using various modes in the same transport chain to correct the dominance of roads and avoid redundant infrastructure.
Intermodal Freight Transport
The container system uses the “unit load” or UTI (intermodal transport unit) that transports between different modes. The planned network consists of intermodal corridors and nodes where different modes of transport merge, both international and domestic. Logistics platforms will be created in the main nodes. Highlights include multimodal logistics platforms for the transshipment of goods from one mode to another: trucking centers, railway logistics platforms, dry ports, and air centers.
Intermodal Transport of Passengers
Intermodal transport of passengers provides a network of corridors and nodes where exchanges are located between diverse modes of transport.
Communications
Communications transmit information between sender and receiver. Advances in computer technology enable access to enormous amounts of information and highways through information (electronic connectivity networks for large amounts of circulating texts, images, and sounds instantly from any point, such as the internet). They also allow storing and disseminating information. This progress has been essential for economic development and globalization, removing the importance of physical space and central geographical positions. In Spain, there has been strong growth (especially in phone usage), with extended screening. There are imbalances, with more connectivity in cities than in rural areas. Madrid is the primary node of the network.