Logistics Center in the Port of Barcelona

The Spanish road network has a star-shaped layout. At the center of the system is Madrid, to which expressways lead from all over the country (Figure 1). Comparing the road network of Spain with the condition and density of roads in other Western European countries, such as Germany or France, it must be stated that despite the enormous progress made in the last few decades, it still lags significantly behind them in terms of density and length. At the same time, due to the less than optimal level of services offered by the Spanish railways, most transport – including long-distance transport – is concentrated on road transport. The growth in transport in recent years is almost entirely carried out by road transport. The layout of the Spanish railway network is characterized by a very similar spatial distribution concept to the road network (Figure 2).

Here, too, Madrid is at the center, with rail connections leading to it from other regions. The radial layout of the main routes, cross-routes, the line running along the Ebro River, and the so-called Mediterranean corridors cover the entire country. The length of the railway network in Spain is 15,000 km. Experts controversially evaluate the privatization and organizational solutions introduced in the railway transport sector in the 1990s. They led to stagnation in rail transport and a slowdown in infrastructure modernization changes. For this reason, the development of the Spanish railway network still lags behind countries such as France and Germany. The dysfunction in the railway sector is reflected in the trend of transport work performed by rail in recent years. Despite the growth in overall transport during this period, rail transport remains at an unchanged level.

Catalonia – economic and transport characteristics
Catalonia is one of the richest regions of Spain, located in the north of the country on the border with France. It is inhabited by 7 million people. The region’s Gross Domestic Product in 2004 amounted to 157 billion euros, which accounted for over 19% of Spain’s total GDP. Catalonia’s GDP per capita is at the level of 23,000 euros. The region is connected to foreign countries by lively trade. Imports in 2004 increased by about 12%, while exports grew by only 4%. The main industries in Catalonia include the automotive industry (80% of Spanish car production and over 60% of manufactured components are intended for export). The production plants of the largest motorcycle and scooter manufacturers are also based here. The strong development of the chemical industry is linked to the port of Barcelona. The pharmaceutical, clothing, machinery, and electronics industries also play an important role. Catalonia has the largest concentration of manufacturers from Japan in Europe.

The region connects motorways running along the Mediterranean coast and at the foot of the Pyrenees. Catalonia also has 2 motorway connections with France. It also lies on the high-speed rail route that connects the region with Madrid, among others. The level of transport infrastructure development in Catalonia has a positive impact on the development of logistics centers in this region. The location of Catalonia is strategic from the point of view of serving the transport needs of the Mediterranean basin. Spain’s communication network allows reaching any point in the country, Portugal, France, a significant part of Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Great Britain from Barcelona within 24 hours. Catalonia is also connected by important transport corridors with the Benelux countries.

The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 6/2008.