Spain's transport minister announces plan to reinforce Catalonia's high-speed rail offering

Spain's minister of transport, Raquel Sánchez, has announced that Renfe will receive 30 new Talgo trains in November.

The new additions to the fleet will mean that high-speed services of AVE and AVLO in Catalonia will be reinforced.

Speaking at an informative breakfast with entrepreneurs in the transport sector in Barcelona, Sánchez explained there will be more stops in Lleida, Tarragona, and Girona.

"We are talking about new trains that will add up to ten high-speed frequencies in this route," the Socialist minister said.

This will see an increase of 300,000 passenger seats available monthly according to Sánchez, "40% more than the current offer."

"In 2024, Renfe will increase the frequency and number of seats of AVE and AVLO trains on the Figueres-Barcelona-Madrid route, which will entail more stops, which I know there is a demand for between Girona, Tarragona, and Lleida," Sánchez said.

Trains: an election issue in Catalonia

Trains and public transport are always a hot topic in Catalonia, and the subject frequently re-appears during election seasons. 

Commuters frequently complain about what they view as poor services offered by the Rodalies network, operated by the Spanish government-owned operating company Renfe. 

With regularity, new incidents appear in the rail network, causing disruptions to services. 

In March, Catalan presidency minister Laura Vilagrà sent a letter to the Spanish transport ministry requesting a meeting to discuss the complete transfer of control of the Rodalies network from Spain to Catalonia. 

Yet, in many statements during the disruptions to the R2 South commuter line, Raquel Sánchez denied that her ministry was in charge of the service, instead saying that the Catalan government has "owned the service for more than 12 years."

So who manages the trains in Catalonia and why is it an election issue? Read more here.