Puente highlights the record 2.6 billion euros spent over the last two years on the Mediterranean Corridor, which is now 100% in progress

The Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, speaks at the 8th Business Event for the Mediterranean Corridor, at the Roig Arena, in Valencia

The Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, attended the last "Quiero Corredor" (I Want the Corridor) event, organised annually in Valencia by the Valencian Business Association. The event served to provide an update on the progress of the Mediterranean Corridor project, which is now 100% in progress.

Puente stated that "construction is underway in all the autonomous communities through which the Corridor passes, which will allow us to achieve significant milestones in the next two years, benefiting citizens and, especially, the logistics and business sectors".

This is all thanks to the €2.6 billion invested in the last two fiscal years. The Minister of Transport announced that €966 million of this amount was spent between January and September 2025, and this figure is projected to reach €1.3 billion by the end of the year. This equals the record figure achieved in 2024.

Investment boost since 2018

In his presentation, the minister explained that this boost to the Mediterranean Corridor "has been achieved thanks to record investment figures, combined with good planning and administrative coordination", which have led to a total of €8.327 billion being put out to tender since 2018, of which €6.480 billion have been awarded.

Putting this into perspective, €5.389 billion has been spent since 2018 (as at September 2025). That year, only 21% of the Corridor was in service, while today 36% is in service; "and we have gone from 45% to 83% under construction".

Thus,"all the stretches are in studies that are completed or underway with construction underway in all the autonomous communities through which this fundamental axis for the development of our country passes". All this can be verified thanks to our commissioner for the Mediterranean Corridor, who provides public updates on all the progress of this infrastructure".

Key milestones and commissioning in the next two years

Óscar Puente highlighted the works the Ministry has underway along the entire Corridor, which will allow for commissioning projects or significant progress to be made over the next two years. So, by autonomous community:

Catalonia

One of the key infrastructures will be in Catalonia: La Sagrera station. It will be a major European intermodal station connecting high-speed rail, commuter rail, the metro, and buses, following an investment of €1 billion. This project encompasses not only the railway component, which is practically complete, but also the urban redevelopment and the modernisation of the railway system in the north of Barcelona.

Valencian Community

During 2027, the infrastructure will be ready to connect the three Valencian capitals with international standard gauge track: Castellón, Valencia, and Alicante. Castellón-Valencia-Alicante. In this regard, the progress made in converting the track gauge between Xàtiva and La Encina is key to connecting Valencia and Alicante with high-speed rail in under an hour, and Valencia and Murcia in an hour and a half. It will also provide connections with other important cities in the Alicante region, such as Orihuela and Elche.

Puente has urged caution before this regional high-speed rail service becomes available in the Valencian Community. This is due both to the scale of the aforementioned works and to other variables that must be considered: train availability, the installation of the ERTMS 2 system, and the new tracks at Alicante station.

Furthermore, the gauge conversion between Tarragona and Castellón will also be completed within two years, meaning that Valencia and Barcelona will also be connected with standard international gauge rail. By this time, the Ministry will be in another phase of developing the dual platform between Valencia and Castellón. In fact, the Minister indicated that they are just weeks away from taking another step in this project and requesting the environmental impact assessment. In other words, by combining construction and planning, progress will continue beyond 2027.

Region of Murcia

The new Murcia-El Carmen station and the opening of the underground section to Alcantarilla in 2026 will make Murcia a crucial gateway for further progress on the Mediterranean Corridor and its extension to Almería. In addition, work continues on bringing high-speed rail to Cartagena.

Andalusia

In Andalusia, work is underway on 200 km of new track between Murcia and Almería and on the modernisation of the Algeciras-Bobadilla line, for which the tender for the 46 km of double track between Antequera and Granada has recently been authorised.

Aragon

Minister Puente also mentioned that, in the context of the Mediterranean Corridor, work is being carried out between Zaragoza and Sagunto, including electrification up to Teruel and the adaptation of gauges and sidings up to this Valencian city.

Rail freight transport and hubs

The Mediterranean Corridor constitutes a definitive boost to rail freight transport, and significant progress will be seen in the next two years.

As the minister pointed out, all these actions are part of a comprehensive logistics hub strategy that connects the rail network with ports, industrial parks, and production centres. These projects, which are nearing completion, will have a direct business impact with tangible operational improvements in 2026 and 2027.

Catalonia

• The La Llagosta terminal, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2026, will expand the freight capacity of the Barcelona metropolitan area.
• The access road to the SEAT plant in Martorell, expected to be operational in the second quarter of next year, will transfer vehicles from the factory to trains, reducing the number of lorries on the road annually by tens of thousands.
• A connection to the Port of Tarragona, one of Europe's main chemical and energy hubs, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

In the Valencian Community

• Access to the Port of Castellón, which represents an investment of €122 million and will be operational by early 2027, is key for ceramic exports.
• Access to the Port of Sagunto, which is expected to be ready in a few months by early 2026.
• The Fuente de San Luis Terminal, also expected to be operational in less than six months.
• The Almussafes bypass, which will connect the Ford plant to the rail network in the first half of 2026 and will also help reduce freight traffic through Alfafar and Sedaví.

European recognition

The Minister for Transport referred to the ongoing recognition from Europe of Spain's work in the railway sector. In fact, he pointed out, "Spain is a benchmark in the EU, and the Commission recognises Spain's investment efforts in the TEN-T networks, especially with the Mediterranean Corridor. In Europe they know we are doing our homework because we are able to secure strategic European funds".

In this regard, Spain is among the countries best positioned to meet the Commission's 2030 targets for the Core Network, and, in fact, "at European Council of Ministers meetings, we always advocate for the need to accelerate freight rail connections as a decarbonisation tool".

Finally, Óscar Puente highlighted the fundamental role played by Valencian civil society in maintaining the commitment to the Mediterranean Corridor. "The fact that this is the last "Quiero Corredor" event is recognition of the work that the Government of Spain has been carrying out for the development of this key rail axis for our country's Mediterranean coast."

He also highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration and dialogue with the business sector to understand the real logistical needs of the region and design more effective solutions.

Non official translation