EUROPE

..with new rail link to boost box traffic..

22 years ago

Fifteen companies have bid to provide a dual gauge rail access to Valencias key southern zone where container traffic is being progressively concentrated.

The work, which will take eight months to complete, will connect the port to San Luis station from where an eventual standard gauge line will possibly link Valencia to Barcelona and the French border.

Although not viewed as essential to ensure further growth at the port, nevertheless a standard gauge link would certainly help Valencia meet its forecast of expanding box traffic by a minimum of 600,000TEUs by 2007 to 2.5mTEUs.

Total port traffic is expected to grow by 10m tonnes to 46.2m tonnes in the same period.