National report Spain – December 2009

Positive points for public transport in your country:

According with the provisions of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalunya, on the last days of 2009 an agreement between the Spanish and Catalan Government was signed in order to transfer the suburban trains of Renfe of Catalonia to the Catalan Government from 1st January 2010. Their services were used last year by 122 million customers. PTP has welcomed this agreement since it the agreement will be possible to convert the transferred service to the quality service level that today enjoy the suburban services of Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, the regional suburban railway company (80 millions users last year). At the same time, this decision opens the door to the rail decentralisation over all Spain. A spokesman of the Catalan Government declared that the service will continue at the moment to be provided by Renfe but under the conditions and requirements established by the Catalan Government. The spokesman added that the transfer of the Renfe’s Regional rail services (11 millions users last year) could take place on 2012 when the new high speed line between Barcelona and France is open.

The Mayor of Barcelona has called for a referendum in April 2010 (through an electronic voting system for people over 16 years). It will be the first Referendum in an important Spanish city in the recent history of Spain. The subject to vote is the reform of the Avinguda (Boulevad) Diagonal, one of the main streets in Barcelona. Three options will be consulted: two proposals for public transformation based on the works that have been developed by a Technical Office of the Municipality following sustainable mobility criteria and a third option in favour of doing nothing. Both transform approaches means a new tram, linking the two existing trams and diminishing the number of lane for private car from 8 to 4 in both directions. PTP has strongly support this referendum since could be a great opportunity to move  many steps forward in favour of the sustainable mobility in Barcelona

The first section of the new fully automatic metro line, L9, has been opened in Barcelona.

Despite the economic crisis that has left without employment an additional 10% of the active population, the number of trips in public transport barely decreased between 2-5% in some Spanish cities whereas the average volume of private transit decreased higher figures. It looks that a part of the users of private cars leaved their cars and shifted to the public transport.

On the other hand the Spanish Government confirmed an investment of 300 millions e to build up the new ‘Main Railway Station’ in Sagrera, Barcelona. It will be the second great station, beside Sants, and will receive HST, regional, suburban and metro trains and a strong connection with the bus network.

The Spanish Government approved a project of law, that will be debated in the Parliament over the next month, that establish a full tax deduction of the expenditures in public transport until an amount of 1.500 € per year. This gives the opportunity of the PT system to increase its attractiveness in case that the project of law will be finally approved

Negative points for public transport in your country:

Despite the huge amount of new HSL sections that have been opened in 2009, the number of users in HST is still relatively low. In one case the service with HST from Zaragoza to Huesca had to be suspended due to lack of interest of user that preferred to continue using the traditional trains that are much cheaper.