Por Redaccion 
Sanz Merino defends that the advancement of electrification on the Salamanca-Fuentes de Oñoro line is «key»
The Mobility Councilor of the Junta, José Luis Sanz Merino, has emphasized the importance of collaboration between administrations, companies, and governments to «double efforts» and ensure that the development of the Atlantic Corridor is a «key piece» for logistical connectivity between Spain and Portugal and its integration into the European market.
This is what the Mobility Councilor did during his speech at the closing of the ‘Railway Transport in the Atlantic Corridor’ conference, held in the Portuguese town of Guarda, where he conveyed the collaboration of the regional government to make the development of the Atlantic Corridor a key piece for logistical connectivity between Spain and Portugal and its integration into the European market.
In this context, the councilor has highlighted the expected impact of the Atlantic Corridor in Castilla y León with an «increase in GDP of 3,670 million, a reduction in emissions of eight million tons of CO2, and an increase of five million tons annually in freight transport until 2040.»
Sanz Merino has listed as cooperation milestones the statements already made in Salamanca (January 2024), where the governments of both countries were urged to prioritize the connection Porto-Aveiro-Salamanca-Madrid, and the Aveiro Declaration (July 2024), which reinforced the commitment to joint investments. But also the support for the initiative of the Portuguese municipality of Viseu to promote the high-speed line that will connect Porto, Aveiro, and Viseu with Castilla y León.
In his speech, focused on cross-border collaboration, Sanz Merino has highlighted the strategic position of Castilla y León, with 915 kilometers of railway track from the corridor crossing its territory. And the role of the Community as a link between Portuguese ports and the center of Spain, with a direct impact on economic growth and environmental sustainability.
STANDARD UNIFICATION
On the other hand, he has advocated for the modernization of infrastructures like the Salamanca-Fuentes de Oñoro line, whose electrification is key for the connection between territories, and has also called for the unification of railway standards between both countries to ensure interoperability.
In the logistics field, he has highlighted the development of the Salamanca-Zaldesa Intermodal Platform and the necessary coordination with the Guarda terminal as an example of Iberian synergy.
He has also highlighted the future reopening of the Silver Route passing through the west of the Community, Salamanca, the province of Zamora (Benavente), and Astorga in León.
According to Sanz Merino, the Atlantic Corridor must be the artery that connects with Portugal, just as the Duero River does, which articulates the territories that must generate common synergies for the economic and social development of Spain and Portugal.