Exploring the potential of the multimodal low-carbon freight corridor Port of Sines - Madrid.

Abstract

Freight transport contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Europe, primarily due to the reliance on fossil fuels and road transport. With increasingly interconnected supply chains and rising cargo volumes, direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scopes 2 and 3) GHG emissions are expected to increase unless proactive and effective measures are implemented. European transport policy has emphasized a shift to eco-friendly transport modes, such as rail and inland waterways, to reduce the dominance of road transport and consequently mitigate impacts on climate change. Within the framework of the ADMIRAL Horizon Europe project, this study conducts a detailed analysis of the multimodal freight corridor between the Port of Sines (Portugal) and Madrid (Spain), part of the Atlantic corridor promoted by the European TEN-T initiative. The study characterizes the existing and future rail and road infrastructure of the Sines-Madrid corridor, and analyses the cargo moved between Sines and Madrid by transport mode, estimating the share of the modal freight that the multimodal corridor could potentially capture and evaluating the reduction of GHG emissions. Additionally, feedback from key stakeholders was collected in a workshop with the aim of exploring their interests in this multimodal solution. The results of the analysis indicate that investment in infrastructure and interoperability is crucial for the viability and success of the service, particularly with regard to the possible development of rail motorways. The traffic analysis suggests that approximately 10% to 30% of current cargo could be transferred to rail, leading to significant reductions in emissions. This work enhances understanding of the sustainability challenges and the extended traffic-related changes necessary to greening transport within the Sines-Madrid corridor and its hinterland.