Transportation and Communications
The most significant consequence of the strong relief of the Cantabrian territory is the existence of topographic barriers that condition decisively the courses of the linking infrastructures, as much in the north-south orientation in the accesses to the Castilian Mesa, as in the east-west in the communication between valleys. Moreover, the cost of their construction and maintenance is much higher than average. This fact is specially remarkable in the Mountain, with roads and railways with slow and winding courses in order to avoid the greater slopes, that being the most problematic and distinct characteristic of the communication network of Cantabria.
An interesting case is the Cantabrian village of Tresviso. To access it by road you have to go via the neighbouring province of Asturias. The only way in or out of the village, famous for its blue cheese, from Cantabria is on foot.
The main communications infrastructures of the region are:
- Santander Airport
- Cantabrian Motorway (Autovía A-8, European route E-70)
- Cantabria-Meseta Motorway (Autovía A-67)
- Narrow-gauge railway Santander-Oviedo (FEVE)
- Narrow-gauge railway Santander-Bilbao (FEVE)
- Broad-gauge railway Santander-Palencia-Valladolid-Ávila-Madrid (RENFE)
- Broad-gauge high-speed railway Santander-Torrelavega-Valladolid-Segovia-Madrid (RENFE)
- Ferry line Santander-Plymouth
- Port of Santander
Read more about this topic: Cantabria