Transport Economy of Madrid

autovía a4, spain



ave s-112 @ madrid atocha station

the construction of transport infrastructure, such ring roads , train network, constituted major pillar of economy 2006. road, rail , air links vital maintain economic position of madrid leading centre of employment, enterprise , tourism. 3 quarters of million people commute city work. road network within metropolitan region includes 9 radial autovías (fast dualled highways) , 4 orbital ones @ different distances centre. of more built radial roads tolls charged have not been used capacity. region possesses high-capacity metropolitan road network. however, in of outer areas new orbital roads have favoured dispersion , fragmentation of residential , economically active areas.

madrid has high standard of public transport provision, consisting of metro, cercanías local railways, , dense network of bus routes, many intermodal interchanges. half of journeys in metropolitan area made on public transport, high proportion compared european cities.

in terms of longer-distance transport, construction of autovías in 1980s , 1990s has given madrid direct fast road links parts of spain , france , portugal. madrid central node of high-speed rail network (ave), connecting city 17 provincial capitals , more under construction. high-speed rail has brought major cities such seville , barcelona within 2.5 hours travel , has taken large proportion of journeys formerly made road or air. economic importance of these developments lies not in facilitating business trips in increasing city s access human capital, strengthening competitiveness of madrid-based business.

madrid-barajas airport, fourth largest airport in europe, important component of city s economy, major transport hub, arrival point large tourist trade, , large employer. barajas handles on 40m passengers annually, of whom 70% international travellers, in addition majority of spain’s air freight movements.

finally, madrid’s location @ centre of peninsula makes natural logistical base , focus of international trade. on half value of national transport of goods , logistical operations passes through madrid region. type of activity gradually moving outwards city itself.