Puente affirms that the transfer of Rodalies is “serious” even though it will be complex

Óscar Puente has assured that the comprehensive transfer of Rodalies to the Generalitat agreed as part of the PSOE agreement with ERC to allow the investiture of Pedro Sánchez and the formation of the current Government is “serious” and will be carried out, although he admits that it is an issue “complex” and that its execution will require a process “that will take a long time.”

The Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has thus responded to questions about the way forward to materialize this agreement during the III Sustainable Mobility Conference held by the digital media elDiario.es, in which he referred to the pact as the ” culmination” of the partial transfer that began in 2010, which was not fully developed.

Puente did not want to specify specific deadlines for the implementation of this measure beyond the statements in which he explains that it will be a long process. When asked again about the matter, he signed that he does not dare to set dates and that both parties involved understand the complexity of the transfer “from a technical point of view”, but he has also shown the willingness of the political agents to get involved. “Let’s get to work” as soon as possible.

Historic agreement according to Martori

“The time required will depend on the work carried out by the table,” he added. On the same day, the director of Transport and Mobility of the Generalitat, Oriol Martori, and the president of Renfe, Raül Blanco, spoke about the transfer. Martori has described the agreement reached as “historic”, although he has requested “diligence” when undertaking the transfer.

For his part, Blanco has said that Renfe will focus on “turning out well” and being “exemplary” in the face of the European liberalization of suburban transport, scheduled for 2033. He has promised “maximum dialogue” with the workers – since The pact provides for the creation of a new mixed company that will assume the Rodalies service -, an issue that has also been referred to by Puente, who has defended that the strike launched by the unions, finally called off, was the result of an “unnecessary alarm “.

Open to listening to other Autonomous Communities, including Andalusia

The minister has also shown himself willing to undertake the transfer of Cercanías networks to other autonomies, if their governments so request: “We are open to dialogue, if there is a will, always within the legal framework.” In the subsequent media attention, he has referred, specifically, to the case of Andalusia, since the Parliament of that community approved a resolution yesterday, Thursday, with the favorable vote of the PP and the abstention of the socialists, to request the meeting of the joint Board-State commission for the “comprehensive” transfer to Andalusia of the rail transport service that runs through Andalusian territory.

“Maybe Spain is not breaking up, but rather (the transfer) is part of a decentralized management of the country that has had very good results during 40 years of democracy,” he resolved before emphasizing that “the complexity must be addressed.” from different perspectives.”