Spain’s government is more inclined to keep the Madrid–Barcelona high-speed line in service while renewal works are carried out, rather than suspend trains, Transport Minister Óscar Puente said on Tuesday. He stressed that no final decision has been taken and that the options will be assessed when the works are put out to tender next year.
Puente said a full closure could shorten the construction schedule, but would leave passengers without service during the shutdown. He described the option as having clear disadvantages and said there were no safety reasons behind considering it. The government would weigh the pros and cons and consult local authorities, passengers and technical experts.
The minister said he may have been misunderstood when he recently discussed a possible closure of around 12 months. He had been comparing Spain’s traditional approach of keeping trains running during construction with alternatives that shut infrastructure completely while work is under way.
As an example, Puente cited the Berlin–Hamburg route, where reopening after a year-long closure was followed by what he called a very difficult first month, prompting public debate. He also voiced support for prioritising passengers’ right to mobility, acknowledging Catalan President Salvador Illa’s call to keep the service running during the works.
The Madrid–Barcelona project has not been postponed. The government is currently arranging the purchase of materials, including ADIF-patented aerodynamic concrete sleepers, before proceeding to the construction tender. The line is approved for speeds of up to 350 km/h, but current sleepers mean trains cannot safely exceed 320 km/h, Puente said.
Puente added that the government is not considering closing the Madrid–Seville high-speed line for safety reasons.
Sources: La Vanguardia.