The Minister of Housing, Territory and Mobility, José Luis Mateo, has condemned the Ministry of Transport for designing the train that will connect Palma and Llucmajor "as if it were an AVE", which "far exceeds" the needs of Mallorca.
The Balearic Government has raised concerns over the train project that will connect Palma and Llucmajor. Minister José Luis Mateo has stated that the Ministry of Transport has designed the infrastructure "as if it were an AVE", completely out of scale for the railway network of Mallorca.
The criticism arose in response to a request for information from the Secretary of State for Transport, José Antonio Santano. Mateo explained that since the working group on the Palma-Llucmajor train was established, the regional government has sent all necessary documentation, but that delays in some responses are precisely due to this oversized design.
A train tailored to Mallorca, not high-speed
Mateo emphasised that the Government is willing to continue collaborating, but only if the project is "resized" to fit the characteristics of the Balearic network. "We do not need an AVE, but an efficient train that is proportionate to our reality," the minister insisted, reminding that the island has a narrow-gauge network that is not prepared for high speeds.
During the meeting with Santano, Mateo expressed his "concern" over the lack of a railway agreement that would provide legal and financial coverage for the works. The minister pointed out that without this agreement, it is difficult to advance in a project of this magnitude. He also took the opportunity to demand the road agreement, which he considers "basic" and "essential" for the citizens of the Balearics.
Sector meeting: three years of waiting
Mateo has requested a "natural, simple and fluid" communication with the Ministry, to which he reproached for not having convened a sector meeting in the three years of the legislature until last July 28. "It is essential to know the situation of the different autonomous communities in order to plan," the minister stated, lamenting the lack of dialogue.
The Palma-Llucmajor train is one of the key infrastructures for mobility on the island, especially for the thousands of residents who travel daily between the capital and the southern municipality. Residents of Llucmajor have been demanding a railway connection for years to alleviate the congestion on the Ma-19 road, especially during peak hours. The current project, however, risks becoming more expensive and delayed if it does not adjust to local reality.
The Government insists that the priority is to streamline procedures and seek a consensual solution that allows work to begin as soon as possible. Meanwhile, public transport users continue to wait for a real alternative to the car. The next meeting between both administrations is expected in the coming weeks, according to sources from the regional government.
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