A Key Step Towards Monitoring the Agreement
The transfer of Rodalies is a complex process that will not be completed quickly, but the first crucial step was taken this Monday. The Catalan and Spanish governments will officially constitute, at a meeting in Barcelona, the main commission that must monitor compliance with the agreement between ERC and the PSOE for the integral transfer of this infrastructure to the Generalitat.
Creation of the Empresa Mixta Rodalies de Catalunya
As of today, the technical working groups will be created, which will address the main axes that define the agreement: the creation of the Rodalies de Catalunya joint venture, which will replace Renfe; the financing linked to the transfer, in which the former Secretary General of the Economy, Josep Maria Vilarrúbia, will play an important role; the exhaustive analysis of the road sections that will come under the umbrella of the Generalitat; and also the transfer of personnel and the rest of the infrastructure that affect Rodalies.
Transfer of the Lines and Commitments of the Spanish Government
The agreement states that, at least, sections of the R1, R2 and R3 will be transferred to the Generalitat. The Government’s priority is to first cross the most ‘simple’ lines, those for passengers that start and end in Catalonia. With goods and those that start or end outside the country, more legal changes and procedures are needed to segregate.
Preparations and Audit of Money and Public Enterprise
The Government has been preparing for the transfer for some time, so that it can be done in an ‘exemplary’ way and not derail at the first bend. The constitution of the political commission is the first, but the Government trusts that steps will be taken in the coming months. The Catalan side has a special interest in monitoring the money that must be allocated to Rodalies and that must be put in by the State.
Improvement of Customer Service
The Generalitat’s priority while the agreement is being rolled out is to improve service to Rodalies users. Incidents will continue to occur – which can be explained, among other reasons, by underfunding – but the Government wants to improve the response to these problems, provide more information and offer alternatives quickly.