Tuesday, 5 July 2011

European Commission backs Algeciras-Madrid connection to TEN-T

(Map: Bay of Algeciras Port Authority)
ALGECIRAS (Agencies) The European Commission announced yesterday that is will back a rail connection that connects Algeciras to the TransEuropean Railway Network (TEN-T) via Madrid, up through Zaragoza to Tarragona and on to the French frontier at La Junquera. The new plan (the 3rd, at least) coincides with what the Campo de Gibraltar has been saying for years. From this viewpoint, a rail connection with the rest of Europe is seen as essential for the development of the area. The Commission's new plan comes in a report it issued called Un presupuesto para Europa 2020 and is now in the hands of the European Parliament and Council, as well as several committees. This means that the subject has yet to be approved, so nothing is written in granite as yet. Nevertheless,>>>
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the head of the Port Authority in Algeciras, Manuel Morón, said that the present position had always been defended from his viewpoint because he believed that a connection via Madrid and on to Perpignan, home of the Saint Charles international fruit & vegetable market where most of the produce from Morocco is distributed. Rapid access to this market alone would mean a lot more business for the prt in Algeciras.

For his part, Juan María de la Cuesta, head of Comport, the organization that covers most port businesses, said that he had always believed a rail cargo connection via Bobadilla was the most rational and would allow to the creation of a niche market from Northern Morocco. De la Cuesta also pointed out that at this time of economic crisis, "it is much better to use and finish the now-obsolete passenger rail for the Algeciras-Bobadilla corridor," which will cost much less than opening new lines.

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