Section trains: the government's proposal for mobility until 2050

BarcelonaThis afternoon, the government presented a plan to the Parliament to carry out a "major transformation" of the country's infrastructure. The president of the Generalitat (Catalan government) stated in his opening remarks that the government intends for Catalonia to take a "step forward" in this regard to "recover maximum ambition in all areas." In a dedicated plenary session at the request of Junts (Junts), the government detailed its mobility plans with a distant horizon, 2050, a 25-year period, to make population growth compatible with the proper functioning of the infrastructure. Among the proposals, the commitment to section trains stands out, which had already been proposed during the previous term but had been put on the back burner with the change of government.

The regional minister for Territory, Silvia Paneque, affirmed that the government is "firmly" promoting these trams. This is a series of trains that would connect several towns, but when passing through urban centers, they would be integrated into the population like a tram, sharing streets with pedestrians and cars. The idea is that, unlike conventional trains, this mode of transport will not create physical barriers in the towns and cities it passes through.

Paneque recalled that the Catalan government will complete the first phase of the Camp de Tarragona tramway in 2028 and said that the information study for the second phase will be approved this year. She also assured that "before the end of the year," the executive branch will present the study and environmental impact of the Bages section and will put out to tender the report to extend it to Santpedor. Although the studies carried out so far emphasize that these infrastructures are not economically viable, the minister said that they are also considering the Puigcerdà - La Seu - Andorra, Girona, and Tortosa - Alcanar projects.

Picabarallas with Cercanías and the airport

During his initial turn to speak, Paneque referred to the creation of the new company Cercanías Cataluña –which must be approved this month by the Council of Ministers– as a "step of historic significance in the country's powers." Despite not making any announcements, Paneque has said that this company "will mark a turning point in terms of mobility" in Catalonia.

In this regard, Junts MP Salvador Vergés reminded the Socialists that "they have presided over Renfe for many years" and accused them of being "part of the problem." For the Junts members, the infrastructure is in a "collapse" caused by the "lack of maintenance and investment by the Spanish state," and they have reproached the Socialists for "never taking a stand," and Isla and Paneque for not having said "a single word" about the fiscal deficit. They will carry out their initial interventions.

The minister has expressed her support for "sustainable" infrastructure, but ERC MP Ester Capella has criticized her for the "contradiction" of fighting climate change while simultaneously advocating for the expansion of El Prat airport. In fact, during his speech, the president of the Generalitat boasted about the expansion agreement and said that work is already underway to implement it. Also attacking the expansion of this infrastructure was MP David Cid, from Comuns, who reproached Isla for "the first thing she put on the table" in the infrastructure debate being the airport instead of the Cercanías (local trains): "El Prat took the lead, and the Cercanías are going to throw stones," he said. The CUP (Coup d'Or) also complained in this regard, asserting that the country's transport policy is geared toward "favoring the tourist lobby" instead of "working people."

PP MP Àngels Esteller, for her part, has accused Junts of being "jointly responsible" for the infrastructure situation in Catalonia, since in her opinion the former Convergència (Convergence) "always used infrastructure as a means of power." For Vox, the Spanish government's concessions to Catalonia in this area are "incomprehensible," and Aliança has focused on the "fiscal plunder" represented by the State's investment deficit in Catalonia.

"The Catalonia constellation" of the 10 million euros

Paneque took advantage of her minutes in the plenary session to outline the Isla government's plans for 2050, a 25-year horizon. She reviewed all the key infrastructure projects they would like to develop to serve the population, with "public and orderly" mobility based on the "necessary public-private collaboration." In this regard, the regional minister asserted that population growth is not a problem, but rather an opportunity to connect cities beyond the Barcelona metropolitan area, an idea she has dubbed "the Catalonia constellation." The very long-term goal, she explained, would be to build a rail network that simulates the main road axes, integrating Manresa, Igualada, the Lleida plain, and also the Terres de l'Ebre region. Paneque insisted that current projects should not be viewed one at a time. but must be framed within a plan of territorial coherence.

Regarding the road network, the regional ministry considers that it is an infrastructure that is sufficiently well maintained and has highlighted that the road system BRCat rapid buses are working well to connect medium-sized cities. As for passenger traffic, the Government wants to continue investing in the 2+1 roads (two lanes in one direction and a single lane in the other direction, alternating every few kilometers); Feliu de Codines, which will also begin the process "shortly."