The Catalan government has announced the creation of a dedicated Adif team for Catalonia. This team will maintain the Rodalies commuter rail infrastructure until the Generalitat receives full powers. Therefore, this interim measure aims to ensure stability during the transfer process.
Albert Dalmau, the Minister of the Presidency, revealed the measure on Wednesday during a government control session in Parliament. He argued that the only viable formula to resolve the region’s endemic railway issues involves “accelerating” the transfer of infrastructure control. However, interim measures remain necessary to ensure stability.
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Interim Management and Future Transfers
Responding to questions from Jéssica Albiach, leader of the Comuns, Dalmau confirmed that the new Adif team would focus exclusively on the Catalan network. Albiach had pressed the government on the progress of the National Rodalies Pact and the status of workers displaced to handle urgent repairs.
The Comuns have proposed that the Catalan administration should sign management contracts directly with the central government to execute infrastructure works. This model is already used for interurban roads. Meanwhile, Dalmau reiterated that while work on the National Pact continues, the priority remains the complete devolution of the service.
Clash Over Renfe’s Role
The session also saw a sharp exchange regarding the future of the rail operator, Renfe. Mònica Sales, president of the Junts parliamentary group, suggested rescinding Renfe’s contract in Catalonia immediately. She proposed that Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) should assume management to end what she described as the “ordeal” of the current service.
“We want a 100% comprehensive transfer,” Sales asserted. She also called for the resignation of Territory Minister Sílvia Paneque and Transport Minister Óscar Puente.
Dalmau rejected the proposal as impractical. He warned that removing Renfe abruptly would leave Catalonia without trains. “The only recipe is to increase investment in the Rodalies line, make trains from Catalonia, and move towards the change in management,” he said. “They know that removing Renfe would already condemn Catalonia to not having trains. The only path is the transfer.”
Broader Parliamentary Tensions
The railway debate took place against a backdrop of wider unrest. An education sector strike occurred outside the Parliament building. Teachers are demanding salary improvements and reduced bureaucracy.
Sales accused the government of plunging Catalonia into “chaos,” citing the strikes and recent protests. In response, Dalmau attributed the teachers’ loss of purchasing power to austerity cuts made during the tenure of former President Artur Mas. He insisted the current executive is committed to “improving educational quality.” Furthermore, he remains open to realistic agreements with unions.
The session also touched on allegations of corruption within the Catalan Football Federation. Additionally, debates regarding the regularization of migrants took place. Dalmau defended the government’s stance against criticisms from the PP and Vox respectively.
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