Briefing
The Generalitat de Catalunya has launched a new publicly funded initiative to train train drivers. The Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica has published the convocatoria with an initial budget of €350,000; it covers up to 50% of course costs, capped at €5,000 per person. The scheme is for people seeking to obtain the training and certification required to operate trains on the Red Ferroviaria de Interés General (services covered include Rodaliesand regional trains).
The call is identified in the official notice as Resolució TER/3995/2026 and was published, according to the Generalitat, in the Diari Oficial de la Generalitat de Catalunya (DOGC, No. 9788) on 5 November 2026. Accordingly, the application period opens one day after publication, on 6 November 2026, and runs for one month. Applicants are eligible if they take the courses specified in the call at accredited training centres and meet the required residency criteria; the number of beneficiaries will depend on the criteria set out in the administrative decision and the available budget.
The Departament cites an urgent need for qualified train staff and points to high turnover among trained train drivers, which is affecting staff availability for regional rail services. The grant is part of the ongoing transfer of responsibility for the Rodalies system. The specific award conditions, required documents, selection criteria and application process are set out in the published Resolució and the associated rules; payments will be made only after proof of attendance and costs is provided.
This account is based on official information from the Departament and publication in the DOGC. Employment and collective agreement arrangements for retaining skilled staff in the longer term, as well as possible effects on punctuality or staffing levels, are not part of the current funding rules and would require separate contractual or statistical analysis.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).