The Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez Jiménez (Gavà, Barcelona, 1975), receives EL PERIÓDICO one day after the Council of Ministers that has closed the political course before the holidays and has approved one of the star measures of the Executive to alleviate the effect of inflation in the pockets as of September: the free season tickets for Cercanías, Rodalies and Media Distancia, in addition to the 50% discounts on Avant and the subsidies to reduce public transport by 30% regional and municipal.
How and when can the new subscriptions be purchased?
We are working so that everything is ready and that on September 1 recurring users can benefit from the discounts for rail transport without incidents, without queues and without suffering collapses on the web. Next Monday the 8th, Renfe will open a register on its website and in its application to obtain free season tickets for Cercanías, Rodalies and Media Distancia and 50% for Avant. And from that same day, a space on the web will also be available to all citizens with all the information to be able to request subscriptions, which will be valid for four months in the case of Rodalies, Cercanías and Media Distancia. A specific subscription will be created for each Cercanías core and for each Media Distancia origin-destination. The idea is that users register with time on the Renfe website to be able to start buying tickets online from August 24, 2022 and during the entire period of validity of the measure.
How many people do you think will leave the car for the train with the free fares?
We have made a first rough estimate that it can benefit 75 million trips. All users who are already enjoying public transport will benefit. But, in addition, it can have a capacity to attract 15%-20% more travelers. And it will have a double impact: by helping the middle and working classes it will be a relief in their economies and in their pockets at a difficult time, but it could also be a measure that encourages the use of public transport in a context very marked by the emergency. climate and promoting sustainable mobility.
Do you have more trains or drivers planned to avoid saturation of the lines?
We are at levels of demand and occupation that place us at 20% of what existed prior to the pandemic and, therefore, if there is an increase in the use of public transport, we understand that there is that margin. In any case, we are going to monitor the demand, to see how it is produced and if peak hours are the most affected, we will have to adopt any type of measure that is necessary. There are different options to be able to play with this flexibility of frequencies and schedules. In addition, Renfe plans to hire up to 1,000 people so that this measure works effectively and is easy for the user.
How much will it cost the State?
We have made an approximate calculation of around 200 million euros, but when we have the results and see if there has been an increase in demand we can adjust that figure.
There are those who describe it as populist…
It is not a populist measure, but a good measure that allows us to help the middle and working classes and ensure that it is not always the same ones who pay the consequences of the crisis. The Popular Party demonstrated its priorities in the previous financial crisis, we are accrediting, with this measure and with the rest that we have adopted, the protection of the most vulnerable, the middle and working classes, but also the necessary competitiveness of our companies.
There has also been criticism, especially from economists, about the 20-cent discount on fuel. Does it make sense for someone with a Ferrari to benefit from that bonus?
This has been a direct help for citizens and has also had a positive effect in helping us contain inflation between 3.5 and 5 points. It makes sense to make that discount on a generalized basis. This Government does not rule out in the future rethinking whether to keep it that way or whether other formulas can be studied.
The carriers asked to raise it to 40 cents. Why not?
The most important thing is to value the agreement that we have reached with the carriers to apply to the sector the same principles that govern the law of the food chain: to ensure that they are not going to work at a loss. The measures adopted include the revision of prices based on the price of fuel. In other words, if carriers have to pay more for gasoline, they can pass on this price increase to their services. We have achieved a fair agreement between their demands and the measures that this Government can apply. They are a set of historical measures that allow us to speak of a structural change in the regulation and working conditions of carriers.
Do you fear the response of the Platform in Defense of the Transport of goods by road?
The main claim of the Platform was to avoid work at a loss, it agreed that this was a good measure and we have the approval of this Royal Decree Law. Throughout the process we have been negotiating with the National Committee of Road Transport and reporting in parallel to the representatives of the Platform.
Can the Government guarantee that there will be no new strikes, especially in the face of winter?
Obviously we have asked the transport sector, like society as a whole, to exercise responsibility. We are in a very difficult moment experiencing the consequences of a war that is taking place at the gates of Europe. We all have to tighten our belts. The Government is also making a great effort with a package of measures that reaches 30,000 million euros.
Looking back, do you regret not sitting down with the carriers sooner?
We always had a problem-solving attitude, which always prioritized the resolution of the conflict. In the March strike there were behaviors and attitudes that in no case can justify any claim no matter how fair it is understood. We always in a context and scenario of dialogue are open to talk and dialogue but respecting the right that some may have to stop but also others to work. And at that time and in that context those conditions did not exist.
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