The Basque government presented the 2027 budget proposal for the Departamento de Movilidad Sostenible in parliament: €695 million, around 19.5 per cent more than the previous year. The minister responsible, Susana García Chueca made expanding public transport and safeguarding ongoing major projects in the three historic territories the main priorities.
The Strategy for Sustainable Mobility Directorate has been allocated €280.7 million. This includes €157 million to operate Euskotren on its own network within the Autonomous Community and €95.1 million for the Cercanías service transferred to the region, which continues to be operated by Renfe. €3.4 million is earmarked for consolidating services in the Llanada Alavesa. Euskotren is also planning investments of €64.2 million, mainly to purchase and renew trains and trams. Needs linked to the future Line 5 of the ferrocarril metropolitano de Bilbao and the extension of the Tranvía a Zabalgana in Vitoria-Gasteiz, including the purchase of twelve extra-long trams, are also mentioned.
For digitalisation and safety, the European Rail Traffic Management System is to be introduced in stages. This will be accompanied by a new system for monitoring and inspecting tracks, initially being piloted on five vehicles, and a Tetra communications system for trams. The department is allocating 9.1 million euros for fare reductions, to be co-funded by other Basque administrations. A further 7.4 million euros is earmarked for accessibility, including tactile paving for people with visual impairments and LED signs indicating reserved areas on trains.
The Directorate for Transport Infrastructure is receiving 408.9 million euros. Following the opening of the underground “Pasante” in San Sebastián and the Altza–Galtzaraborda deviation, funding is planned for demolition and urban development measures in affected areas, including the demolition of the viaduct and old Pasaia station (10.8 million euros), as well as 2.4 million euros for the Amara freight diversion. Completion of the new stabling facility in Zumaia is expected to free up the tracks in Amara for subsequent urban development. Work to cover the tracks in Galtzaraborda (Errenteria) will start with 640,000 euros and commitment appropriations of 7.2 million euros. At the Riberas de Loiola junction in San Sebastián, construction work is due to begin once the detailed design has been completed, so that the ETS and Adif networks and Euskotren services can be brought together there in future.
The draft will now be considered by parliamentary committees; final amounts and priorities will only be determined once the legislative process is complete.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).