PDU approved: The southern rail hub of the Port of Barcelona is underway

 

The project, which integrates a set of key infrastructures, will be located in the old bed of the Llobregat river and, partially, parallel to its current course (Nou Llobregat TerminalThe future rail hub will consist of six terminals, including one rail freight terminal, and several for receiving, shipping, loading and unloading.

 

Strong Investment and Environmental Commitment

 

The construction of this railway junction requires an estimated investment of 265 millones de eurosOf this amount, 70 million are earmarked for the Nou Llobregat Terminal (already under construction), 150 million for the future terminals of the old riverbed, and 45 million for complementary works.

 

In addition to infrastructure investment, the Port of Barcelona will make a significant environmental commitment, allocating 26 millones de euros to the creation of green areas, as required by the PDU. This translates into the generation of 24 hectares of new public spaces that will be integrated into the Llobregat Agricultural Park-Montjuïc Park Green Corridor, acting as a landscape buffer and improving the connection between urban centers and economic areas.

 

Key Axis of the Mediterranean Corridor and Sustainability

 

The approval of the PDU culminates a four-year process of dialogue and procedures, including citizen participation and environmental assessment, and allows the start of the necessary actions.

 

The main objective of this development is to facilitate the transfer of a high volume of goods from road to rail, which will result in a substantial reduction of emissions and negative externalities such as traffic congestion and accidents.

 

Projected Impact: Once the six terminals are operational, it is estimated that the hub will be able to transfer approximately [number of] road traffic to rail traffic. 640.000 containers and 46.000 semi-trailers annually.

 

Historical Results: The Port's rail strategy has already prevented more than 1,7 million truck journeys in the last 10 years. In 2024 alone, rail traffic within the port prevented the emission of 48.500 tons of CO2. CO2 , the equivalent of planting 291.000 trees.

 

The logistics hub will serve the Free Trade Zone, the Pratenc Industrial Estate, and the industries of Baix Llobregat, consolidating the Port as a benchmark for maritime-land and land-land traffic in the Mediterranean.

 

“The Urban Development Plan (PDU) for the Intermodal Logistics Terminal integrates the infrastructure into the landscape through green corridors that act as a buffer, while improving the connection between urban centers and areas of economic activity and guaranteeing the environmental and social function of the new public spaces that will be generated,” he stated. José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona.

 

This project has achieved consensus between the Port, the city councils of Barcelona and El Prat, the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona Regional.