The ‘vice president’ assures that the main obstacle is not technical or budgetary, but political
The ‘vice president’ and ‘conseller’ of Digital Policies and Territory, Jordi Puignero, summons the Government to clarify whether it wants to transfer the Rodalies service “definitively and comprehensively” to the Generalitat, after a failure in the telecommunications service forced the Renfe train network in Catalonia to be paralyzed for three hours. “We are open to reaching this agreement, but I have the feeling that there is no political will and I am tired of waiting,” he says in an interview with the Agència Catalana de Notícies (ACN). After a year in which the talks have not advanced, Puigneró has set the general policy debate to be held on September 27 and 30 as the “deadline” to get the negotiation back on track.
Last November, after a meeting of the bilateral infrastructure commission, Puigneró stated that the path towards the “comprehensive and definitive” transfer of Rodalies had begun. Practically a year after the creation of the group that was to study its feasibility was set, the vice president affirms that the negotiation “is not advancing adequately despite all the work that has been done” and urges the Government to “take action”.
The support of the PSC
Specific, calls on the PSC to support the motions for resolutions that Junts per Catalunya will present in the general policy debate in favor of the transfer and, depending on the socialist response, says that it will be able to verify the Government’s intention. But he already warns of the consequences of a refusal. “I will feel untethered by that good will that we all expressed together in the bilateral commission now a year ago now,” he said.
Although it is “a complex transfer”, Puigneró assures that the main stumbling block is not technical or budgetary: “If there is political will, everything is possible,” he insists. And he is open to opting for a “consortium model between administrations”, as was done with the Metropolitan Transport Authority (ATM) and stresses that “it is not a political color issue”, but to “manage the service from proximity” , as is done with the Metro or Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat. Yes, he closes the door to assuming a transfer where there are no “tracks, catenaries, trains, stations, or personnel, because then a service cannot be managed.”
For the ‘conseller’ of Territory, “the policies of the State government in terms of commuter railways in Catalonia are absolutely erratic for a long time” and the situation in which the Renfe service finds itself is “a disaster”, with “incidents every day”. Puigneró insists that although “it is not easy for the Government to manage a service that today generates problems every day” this is the way to improve Cercanías.
In this sense, he adds that the “promises” and “rains of millions” to Cercanías do not end up materializing. “At forty or fifty years, not a single new Renfe Cercanías railway line has been built in Catalonia. What’s more, the situation of the railway infrastructures, except for the AVE, which is very well maintained, is below the desirable “, has underlined.
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Puigneró’s statements come two days after the proposal from the Cercanías coordinator, Peter Maciasof a new commuter line between Castelldefels and Barcelona with a new tunnel under the Diagonal. The ‘conseller’ has referred to this matter saying that they are tired “of studies” and of “promises and news that come out suddenly and then don’t end up translating into anything”. “Enough. Cercanías users have a limit. And the Generalitat too“, has sentenced.
Regarding the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC) launcher that has to link the center of Barcelona with the airport in less than half an hour, he has defended that it is a “feasible” project as it is planned, passing through the city . The ‘minister’ has responded to the criticism that the route through the Catalan capital is already congested, stating that “if there is a problem, it will be solved” and reaffirming his commitment to a line that will help “decarbonise and make the city more competitive”. infrastructure.