Increased travelers reported in Sanabria due to reduced bridge frequency, according to Puente's statement.

Politician Héctor Palencia criticizes minister's proposed solution to depopulation in Castilla y León, stating it involves centralizing all services within Valladolid.

, and Administrator

2025 September 13 . 12:34 PM

2 min read

Travelers encountering a more frequent reduction in service at the Puente location in Sanabria,... — Travelers encountering a more frequent reduction in service at the Puente location in Sanabria, according to Puente's statements.

Increased travelers reported in Sanabria due to reduced bridge frequency, according to Puente's statement.

In the heart of Spain, a heated debate is unfolding between Héctor Palencia, the deputy for Ávila, and Óscar Puente, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, over transport issues in Castile and León.

Héctor Palencia has raised concerns about the proposed solution to address depopulation in the region. Puente's plan, which centres around centralising all services in Valladolid, has been criticised by Palencia. He argues that this move would result in the elimination of train stops in rural areas like Sanabria, as well as bus stops and regional airports.

Palencia has also denounced that cities like Logroño, Almería, and Ávila have longer train travel times than in the past century. In particular, Sanabria has experienced a suppression of frequencies in the train connecting Madrid and Galicia. However, surprisingly, Puebla de Sanabria has seen an increase in passengers after the suppression of frequencies.

The trains to Sanabria are primarily used by tourists seeking the region's landscape and gastronomy. Prior to the suppression, Sanabria had eight daily High Speed frequencies. Despite the reduction, the current train schedules seem to suit the tourists better, resulting in a 40% increase in passengers to Galicia.

However, Palencia has pointed out that medium-distance rail transport is a neglected area. He has also accused Puente and the socialist government of failing to address incidents on the Madrid-Ávila line, with 16 incidents, breakdowns, and infrastructure problems reported since Sánchez took office.

In a bid to highlight the issues, Palencia has invited Puente to travel on the Madrid-Ávila line with him. It remains to be seen whether this invitation will lead to a productive discussion on the future of transport in Castile and León.

Despite the controversy, it is important to note that High Speed trains are governed by market rules and are not considered a public service or of public interest. The functionality to access train information is only accessible for registered users, with a subscription required.

In the broader context, High Speed trains are referred to as a tool for territorial cohesion. However, the available sources do not indicate that Minister Puente has implemented any regional policy specifically connecting Madrid to Galicia that led to the 40% increase in passenger traffic.

As the debate continues, it is clear that the future of transport in Castile and León is a topic of great importance and concern for both Palencia and Puente.