Valencia in the Mediterranean Arc: Good transport connections and access to the principal markets

The globalisation of the economy brings with it an increase of economic interdependence between different parts of the world as flows of people, information, capital and goods are exchanged. In this context, cities become nodules in an exchange network, due to their ability to produce, organize, distribute, send and receive these "macro-regional" and international flows. Valencia forms part of one such network, connected by different modes of transport to the principal areas of economic growth and the most important markets. This network will be improved in the near future by various key projects that are already underway.

The Transport Network...

Rail: The High-speed

El AVE Madrid- Valencia y la conexión con Barcelona- Frontera Francesa (el Corredor Mediterráneo)

The Madrid-Valencia High-Speed Train and the connection with Barcelona-French Frontier (the Mediterranean Corridor)

From 2006, the Madrid-Valencia high-speed train connection ("AVE"), which is under construction, will link both cities in a journey time of an hour and a half, and its finalisation has been promised by the Ministry of Public Works by 2010. However, it is believed that the coming Americas Cup in 2007 will bring the terms of execution forward. Furthermore, a future connection from Madrid to Lisbon is also being considered.

The connection to the European high-speed train network will be made via a link to Barcelona-French Frontier. Fundamental to this project is the use of an international gauge so that the connection with the French Frontier is uninterrupted. In achieving this aim the key section will be that between Castellón and Tarragona (the high-speed train connection between Madrid-Valencia-Castellón will use two tracks of international gauge, and the Barcelona-French Frontier section will be provided by that of Madrid-Barcelona-French Frontier). For the moment, a commitment to an international gauge is established in the report of the Valencia-Castellón section.

The Parque Central

The rail network activity described above is related to the project for a central park. This will remodel the city’s railways, adding a new and modern Central Station with underground rail links to the airport. To accomplish this, the tracks within the city will be put underground making available an enormous expanse of ground (732,591 square metres) which will be converted into a large, green "lung" (260,000 square metres) in the centre of Valencia, frontiered by new residential areas.

What is currently a space for tracks will be a large park, while the adjoining spaces will be reclassified for the construction of flats and public buildings. Underground there will be tunnels for the high-speed, regional and local trains, some of which will stop at the university campuses.

Road: The Opening to the Atlantic

With regard to the road connections that will complete Valencia’s overland communications network, outstanding are those to the north-west and west, connecting Valencia with the Atlantic:

· The Sagunto-Saragossa-Sompert dual carriageway, which will connect with the markets of the French Atlantic. Work on this has already begun (some sections are complete, others under construction, others at the planning stage).

· The Valencia-Madrid-Lisbon road axis.

At a metropolitan area level there are plans for a second by-pass (a new ringroad)25 which will ease traffic congestion on the present
by-pass and improve journey times.

Sea and Air: The Port and the Airport

The connections by sea are in no need of improvement. The Port of Valencia already has regular connections with 300 ports on the five continents. The Mediterranean port with most potential, its growth over the coming decades has been assured by a project for expansion at a time when the EC favours the interchange of transport methods and the development of transport by sea to ease the burden on the roads and to improve levels of frequency, speed and security.

With its Plan Director, the airport has also ensured the infrastructures necessary for future growth, especially with regard to freight. At the same time it has consolidated and extended its network of regional flights and its connections with Europe’s principal cities.

The results: The nucleus of a region of great
logistic potential

The Valencia Region26 is already very active regarding the transport of goods by road to other regions in the Mediterranean Arc (the European "macro-region" with the most promising perspectives for economic growth and development). The increase of this transport is greater than that of other regions in the Spanish Mediterranean Arc. This increase is supported by a logistic sector with a tradition of dynamism and power.