Spain’s Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, José Antonio Santano, announced that the feasibility study for the Logroño–Miranda de Ebro rail section, covering both passenger and freight services, has produced a favourable outcome for several of the alternatives assessed.
The project will require an investment of between EUR 225 million and EUR 400 million, depending on the final option selected.
Santano emphasised that the scheme represents a significant benefit for the citizens of La Rioja, as it will cut journey times by more than 21 minutes, increase commercial speeds by 46%, and improve both the reliability and overall performance of existing rail services. The next step will be to present the findings to the Advisory Council for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, after which an informative study will be tendered in 2026 to analyse in greater detail the most viable alternatives for implementation.
All proposed options include a gauge-changing facility in Miranda de Ebro, enabling trains operating on the Logroño–Miranda de Ebro corridor to connect with the Burgos–Vitoria high-speed line. For freight traffic, and in accordance with Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) standards, the project will also include a loop and parking siding for 740-metre-long freight trains, allowing them to be efficiently managed without disrupting passenger operations.
The Logroño–Miranda de Ebro rail section forms a strategic component of the Cantabrian–Mediterranean Corridor, which aims to improve connectivity between northern Spain and the Mediterranean coast. This corridor plays a crucial role in linking key industrial and logistics areas with national and international transport networks, reinforcing Spain’s position as a central hub within the European rail system. Once completed, the upgraded line will contribute to reducing road congestion, cutting emissions, and improving the competitiveness of rail freight across the region.
In addition to travel time savings, the project is expected to boost regional development by improving accessibility for both passengers and goods. It will enhance links between La Rioja, Burgos and the Basque Country, promoting tourism, supporting local industries, and facilitating the sustainable movement of goods to major ports and distribution centres. The initiative also aligns with Spain’s broader Transport and Mobility Strategy, which prioritises green, efficient, and digitally connected infrastructure to support economic resilience and decarbonisation objectives.
Overall, the Logroño–Miranda de Ebro rail section represents a major step forward in the modernisation of Spain’s rail network. Through a combination of upgraded infrastructure, interoperability with the high-speed system, and improved service quality, the project will deliver tangible long-term benefits for passengers, freight operators, and the wider regional economy.
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