Briefing
The Community of Madrid has set a firm deadline of the end of 2026 for completing the ongoing reorganisation of the interurban bus network and aims to submit the tender documents (Pliegos) to the Consejo de Gobierno for a decision this year. Transport, Housing and Infrastructure Minister Jorge Rodrigo reaffirmed this goal at a public breakfast event on 25 September 2026 at the Hotel Palace in Madrid. The regional administration cites the technical and legal complexity of the procedure as the reason for the delays.
The reform centres on updating the so-called mapa concesional, or concession structure for interurban routes. The current network was adopted in 2009; it has been considered “out of date” since 1 December 2024 and has been extended annually ever since. According to information made public so far, the future awards are expected to comprise 21 contracts, serving around 487 bus routes in 179 municipalities and providing for about 23 new routes. The government says the future concessions will run for around ten years and puts the investment at approximately 10,000 million euros.
The Consorcio Regional de Transportes emphasises the network’s importance: according to figures reported publicly, around 800,000 passengers use the interurban bus routes each day. Changes to how services are organised could therefore significantly affect frequencies, connections and reliability in the area around the capital.
The next formal step is consideration of the Pliegos by the Consejo de Gobierno; only then can the tenders be published and contracts awarded. Given the scale of the contracts, the authorities expect legal challenges that could extend the timeline. No specific dates have yet been given for awards or the start of the new concessions; reliable statements will only be possible once the Pliegos are published in final form.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).