We present the project of the intermodal terminal of the Empordà

The investment planned for this project is 117,9 million euros, which is expected to be 26% private investment. It will be designed with a capacity of 300,000 containers and 300,000 vehicles per year.

The future intermodal terminal of the Empordà has as main objective to become a 'hub' rail that allows great burden from trains from various parts of the Iberian Peninsula with the Port of Barcelona from charges, and that from this terminalthey may continue in long trains to Europe and vice versa.

In this sense, this intermodal terminal will be a fundamental piece to promote the prototype of the Franco-Spanish border in the Mediterranean corridor and enhance cross-border transport of goods.

In a first phase, the Terminal is designed in dead end, although the project itself provides for the continuation of the mixed gauge (European + Iberian) to Portbou. Thus, this terminal be connected both with the cross-border Pertús tunnel and Portbou.

In this way the terminal rail access with the double track width (Iberian and European) and connect to the general way in the vicinity of the current station of Vilamalla will come where the double track width with the third thread that is currently building the Ministry of public works. Adjacent to the station of Vilamalla will install a bundle of tracks of reception and dispatch to order rail flows forward and to the Aixa as general via terminal. Vilamalla station a railway corridor will pass next to the current Vilamalla cargo terminal and will cross the road C-31 below to place already in the area of the terminal at the end of El Far de l'Empordà.

The feasibility study of railway access and the first phase of the terminal railway has already favourable environmental impact statement, is the first step for final approval. The feasibility study shows that mostly the merchandise that will move to the future terminal will come from truck to rail and, therefore, will mean the reduction of 325,000 trucks on the roads approximately.

This project is included in the Plan of infrastructure of transport in Catalonia, as well as the National Pact of infrastructure. Also, the Generalitat has raised its inclusion as a priority project in the Strategic Plan for the promotion of the rail transport of goods which is currently the Ministry of public works. For its part the European Union, you must select provisionally as one of the projects of the trans-European network of transport and the final decision is expected in the coming weeks. Final inclusion would mean economic EU support for the elaboration of the draft.

Company in which Cimalsa and Port de Barcelona

The development of this project the company Terminal Intermodal Empordà, S.L. (TIE) 52% owned by Cimalsa has been constituted and 48% from the Port of Barcelona. This company assumes management of the current terminal of Vilamalla and will be responsible for the development of the future of the Far-Vilamalla intermodal terminal.

This society has an initial capital of 3.2 million euros which will be mainly devoted to the development of technical projects required for the execution and implementation in place of this terminal. TIE is also responsible for the commercial promotion of the Terminal and the capture of operators and rail traffic. This society is open to the entry of new partners (rail and logistics operators) that provide loads and rail experience.

He is expected that during 2010 are bid the core projects of the loading and unloading and reception and dispatch of the future Terminal areas and that the procedures of the project are carried out in 2011. At the moment Cimalsa is designing other logistics operations that incorporate rail terminals of goods in the Penedès and Montblanc.