SEAT and Autometro, an affiliate company of FGC and COMSA Rail Transport, have signed a contract renewal of the rail service that transports vehicles between the SEAT production plant in Martorell and the Port of Barcelona. In operation since 2008, this train service, operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) –Catalan Regional Railway, currently transports an average of 105,000 vehicles every year.
With this signing, both companies are extending operation of the Autometro service by a further three years. During this time, several technical studies will be carried out that will enable complementary rail traffic and adjust the service to the current needs of the Martorell factory. At present, these trains make three trips a day from Monday to Friday, and are integrated in the Baix Llobregat Metro rail service.
The Autometro service runs on the FGC’s Llobregat-Anoia line, whose track is about 50 metres from the SEAT plant and has a branch line to connect it, and enters in the Port of Barcelona via an access track to the unloading zone. Once in the harbour, the vehicles are exported by means of maritime transport to their final destination.