Barcelona, 30th October 2026, Oriol Junqueras, president of the Catalan republican party ERC, has urged Adif, Spain’s rail infrastructure manager, and Transport Minister Óscar Puente to "show their faces" over the chronic underfunding of railway maintenance in Catalonia and across Spain.
In a post on X published this Friday, Junqueras highlighted that Spain allocates just 45.5 million euros per 1,000 kilometres of railway for maintenance, less than half the European Union average of 80.6 million euros, according to a 2024 Eurostat-comparative report cited by El Economista.
"This year's tragedies make what we have been demanding from ERC for years even more urgent: investments and safety guarantees in Catalonia. People's lives are not to be trifled with," Junqueras said.
Spain Ranks Third-Lowest in EU Rail Maintenance Spending
Spain is the third-lowest spender on rail upkeep in the European Union, ahead only of Croatia and Slovakia, data from 2024 show. The Netherlands leads the bloc with 336.2 million euros invested per 1,000 km, followed by Austria, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic.
An earlier report by the Instituto de Estudios Económicos (IEE) estimated that Spain would need to increase its per-kilometre spending by 77% to meet the EU average, requiring an additional 569.7 million euros annually across the national network.
Government Announces 1.8 Billion Euro Maintenance Boost
Despite these concerns, the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility announced on 9th February 2026 that it had reached an agreement with rail sector unions to boost maintenance investment by 1.8 billion euros between 2026 and 2030.
Under the agreement, Adif will receive 861 million euros for maintenance in 2026, rising to 1.179 billion by 2030. Adif AV, responsible for high-speed lines, will see a 44% increase in maintenance spending between 2025 and 2030.
“Se trata de un acuerdo importante para seguir mejorando el sistema ferroviario español y garantizar su competitividad presente y futura,” said Transport Minister Óscar Puente.
The deal also includes the creation of 3,650 new jobs, with 2,400 positions added at Adif by 2030 and a commitment to a minimum 115% replacement rate in public sector staffing. Additionally, 300 new road maintenance vehicles will be added, with the first 100 expected by mid-2026.
Local Impact and Next Steps
Residents and commuters in Catalonia are reminded that rail safety and reliability depend on sustained investment. The government's current plan is detailed in the Ministry of Transport’s official announcement.
Junqueras and ERC continue to press for greater accountability and faster implementation, particularly on the Mediterranean Corridor, where Adif has committed 471 million euros to upgrades between Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Sagrera via Sant Andreu.
Sources: Europa Press, adif.es, eleconomista.es, transportes.gob.es, La Moncloa.
