Two and a half years after the first presentation of the largest rail freight terminal on the Iberian Peninsula to be built in Famalicão, Medway, Portugal’s leading company, has once again presented the project “completely redesigned, more modern, bolder, with better technology” and with double the investment than initially announced, rising from 35 million euros to 63 million.
At a session held this Tuesday at the Casa do Território, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Medway, Carlos Vasconcelos, explained that the stoppage caused by the pandemic "allowed us to reformulate the project, introducing improvements at various levels, particularly with regard to cutting-edge technology, which of course increased the investment”.
Despite this, the work will move forward soon, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. In an initial phase, the infrastructure will involve the creation of 45 direct jobs, the official said.
Essentially, with the direct rail link, via the Minho Line, as well as road accessibility through several main routes, this terminal will boost the local export industry, facilitating the logistics of their goods, thus contributing to the economy and employment in the region.
“By getting closer to the place where the goods are received, we are shortening distances. With this work we will bring the Maritime Port to Famalicão", referred Carlos Vasconcelos, explaining, "this terminal will allow a greater proximity, reduce distances and of course lower costs".
Regarding the decision to install this Terminal, in the county of Famalicão, the responsible highlighted "the good railway and road connections; the excellent reception and excellent relationship with the local entities; the agility in the implementation requirements; the training of qualified human resources and the proximity of industries and important activities for import and export".
Satisfied with the project, was obviously the Mayor, Paulo Cunha, who stated, "conditions are in place for this project to move forward very soon".
"It is a very important project for Famalicão, because it is a project that induces development and that will attract more companies to Famalicão, a territory that still has a very large potential for industrial growth”, he assumed.
"It is a good project in itself, but it is much better for what it will bring to Famalicão in the future", added the mayor, pointing out that "it is unequivocal that the transport of goods will change, the highway will be less and less used and with this project Famalicão gains a Dry Port, because ships will arrive at Leixões, will arrive at Viana, at Aveiro and will enter the railway, arriving at this terminal, which will allow the products to be placed all over the world, which will make Famalicão's export potential increase even more".
The City Council is creating an execution unit that aims to provide the entire area surrounding the terminal with adequate infrastructural conditions. In this context, a new road will be created to allow access from the industrial area of Lousado to the Railway Terminal, connecting to the parish of Cabeçudos and to the national road network. It will be a structured road with dimension for heavy traffic.
In turn, with four railway lines of 750 metres, the Railway Terminal will have an area of 220 thousand square metres and capacity for 11,000 TEUs (each TEU is equivalent to around 6.1 metres, the length of a standard goods container). It foresees the circulation of 6 to 8 trains per day and 500,000 annual container movements.
The project also includes connections for refrigerated containers, a reserved area for dangerous goods, spaces for storage and logistics services, a secure park for trucks, workshops and 24-hour surveillance.
Medway owns 69 locomotives (35 electric and 34 diesel) and 2,917 wagons, as well as several logistics terminals and an area for the maintenance and repair of railway equipment.
It will also include an 800m2 administrative building.