Adif enters Puerto Seco to boost the Madrid Logistics Hub

• Focus on modal shift to rail: strengthens its strategic alliance in freight transport with Puertos del Estado and Port Authorities
  Adif's network of strategic logistics nodes includes the terminals of Madrid-Vicálvaro, La Llagosta, Can Tunis, and Zal Prat in Barcelona; Valencia Fuente de San Luis; Valladolid; Sevilla Majarabique; Júndiz in Vitoria-Gasteiz; and Zaragoza Plaza.

Madrid, December 23, 2022 (Adif).

Adif has entered the Puerto Seco Madrid company, allowing for the establishment of work guidelines for the integration of the management of the intermodal terminals of Puerto Seco and Madrid-Vicálvaro with the aim of strengthening the capacity and potential of the Madrid Logistics Hub.

The operation became effective with the acquisition of the 13.08% stake held by the Public Land Entity SEPES in Puerto Seco Madrid. This company has partners such as Puertos del Estado and the Port Authorities of Bahía de Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, and Valencia, each with 10.2%, the Community of Madrid (25%), and the City Council of Coslada (10.92%).

The joint management of both intermodal terminals, which complement each other strategically, geographically, and functionally, will enhance the growth of rail freight traffic and the development of rail connectivity with ports, in a framework of coordination aligned with the Ministry of Transport, Mobility, and Urban Agenda (Mitma)'s 'Goods 30' initiative.

The new Madrid-Vicálvaro freight transport terminal, where Adif will invest 300 million in its comprehensive remodeling in various phases, is set to become a major multimodal platform of the trans-European Core Network, connecting the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors with an impact on the ports located on these coastal fronts. The Puerto Seco Madrid terminal, on the other hand, has established itself as an example of intermodal development by contributing to the deployment of rail services between ports and the logistics area of Madrid.

Network of strategic logistics nodes

The integration of the management of both facilities will generate synergies, promoting the efficiency and competitiveness of port and rail activity in freight transport. With this operation, Adif and Puertos del Estado strengthen their strategic alliance in the development of logistics nodes.

Currently, Adif's network of strategic logistics nodes includes the Madrid-Vicálvaro terminal; the terminals of La Llagosta, Can Tunis, and Zal Prat in Barcelona; Valencia Fuente de San Luis; Valladolid; Sevilla Majarabique; Júndiz in Vitoria-Gasteiz; and Zaragoza Plaza.

This operation adds to the recent agreement between Adif and the Port Authority of Barcelona to promote the creation of a company to jointly develop and manage the railway logistics node of Barcelona through the Train Port company. This node includes the Can Tunis railway complex, the La Llagosta intermodal and logistics terminal, and the intermodal terminals of the Port de Barcelona and Autopista Ferroviaria.

Focus on modal shift to rail

One of the main challenges facing the sector is to shift more freight to trains that currently travel by road, aiming for more sustainable, competitive, multimodal, and safe mobility.

Axis 6 of the Ministry of Transport's 2030 Safe, Sustainable, and Connected Mobility Strategy pursues, among other objectives, the development of national and European corridors, the improvement of railway connections with ports and logistics centers, and a modal shift in freight transport towards railways.

In this context, the comprehensive remodeling of logistics nodes is designing high-capacity terminals with interoperable parameters, connected to road networks, and equipped with spaces for the implementation of complementary value-added activities.