Medlog, the inland logistics arm of MSC Group, has secured a contract to operate Spain’s Vitoria-Júndiz intermodal rail terminal through a joint venture involving the port authorities of Bilbao and Pasaia, alongside regional institutions in Álava. The agreement aims to expand rail freight volumes and strengthen connections between maritime gateways, inland logistics hubs and European markets.
Spain’s rail infrastructure manager Adif awarded the contract to Terminal Intermodal Júndiz for an initial period of six years, with extensions possible up to a maximum of 20 years. Medlog holds a 40% stake in the operating venture, making it the largest shareholder.
The remaining stakes are held by the Bilbao Port Authority with 25%, the Vitoria-Gasteiz Intermodal Transport Centre and the Álava Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services with 15% each, and the Pasaia Port Authority and Servicios Intermodales Bilbaoport (Sibport) with 2.5% each.
The consortium plans to handle approximately 300,000 intermodal transport units (ITUs) during the first six years. Throughput is projected to reach 15,000 units in the first year, rise to 45,000 in the second and reach 60,000 annually from the third through the sixth year. These targets represent a substantial increase from the 4,723 units handled at the terminal in 2025.
The terminal spans approximately 55,000 square metres, including a 36,000-square-metre concrete handling area and three railway tracks designed for loading and unloading freight. Supporting infrastructure includes internal roads, an administration and services building, and parking facilities for heavy and light vehicles.
Adif has invested more than €37 million in the first phase of the terminal’s redevelopment. The wider project, planned across four stages, carries an estimated investment requirement of €95 million. The infrastructure is being developed to accommodate both Iberian and European standard-gauge trains, improving connections between Spanish freight operations and the wider European rail network.
Júndiz forms part of the Trans-European Transport Network and occupies a strategic position along the Atlantic Corridor. Its location links Vitoria with the cross-border route through San Sebastián, Bayonne and Bordeaux, strengthening its potential role in freight movement between northern Spain and southwestern France.
For the Port of Bilbao, the agreement is expected to expand inland connectivity and provide shippers with additional rail-based logistics options. The partnership also brings together port authorities, a global logistics operator and regional institutions to attract new freight traffic and strengthen Álava’s position as an inland distribution hub.
Bilbao Port Authority president Ivan Jiménez Aira said the award creates an opportunity to improve rail connectivity, extend the port’s hinterland and develop more competitive logistics services. The consortium’s next challenge will be to attract sufficient cargo volumes to meet its projected throughput targets.