Óscar Puente had set a target of cutting the Madrid–Barcelona train journey to exactly two hours, 30 minutes faster than it was at the time. The goal was announced in November of the previous year, when he was transport minister. The article argues that his resignation was politically necessary, but would not address the deeper problems facing Spain’s rail network.
The past year brought the Adamuz and Urda rail accidents, both involving high-speed services, alongside a worsening crisis in commuter and conventional rail. Rodalies in Catalonia, the article says, was pushed to a critical point.
Puente had described Spain’s railways as being in “the best moment in their history.” He also proposed building a new high-speed line between Lleida and Barcelona, running into the Catalan capital from the north as an alternative to the existing route, despite the significant terrain challenges. The proposed line would allow trains to reach 350 km/h, a speed the article notes the minister said “nobody reaches except the Chinese.”
The article says Spain’s rail policy needs to move away from a focus on speed and records and give greater priority to public service, daily passengers and a more realistic connection between regions.
Sources: elDiario.es.