The Department of Education has formalized an agreement with the Portbou Town Council to introduce a vocational training course focused on the railway sector. This new educational offering, which will have a "cross-border" vocation, will be located in a building at the Portbou train station, owned by Adif, and is expected to accommodate between 15 and 30 students per cohort. The aim is for the first cohort to begin their studies in the 2027-2028 academic year.
The Minister of Education, Esther Niubó, emphasized the importance of such projects in laying the groundwork for the future Catalan railway system, which will require "qualified personnel." For his part, the mayor of Portbou, Gael Rodríguez, described the agreement as a "first step" towards achieving the "station of the future" that the municipality needs, thereby seeking to "re-establish the town as a relevant hub on the Spanish railway map."
This training course will be added to the five already offered in Catalonia in other locations with a railway tradition. Its strategic position on the border with France gives it a "cross-border" uniqueness. The chosen building is the former Economat of the station, and negotiations for its transfer by Adif are already underway. The Department estimates an approximate cost of 480,000 euros for the works and teaching staff.
This initiative is part of the Protocol of Intentions between the Departments of Education and Territori to promote railway-related studies, particularly in the context of the Rodalies (commuter rail) transfer. Vocational training has become a significant pathway for youth employment, with 5,000 new places planned for the upcoming academic year across the region.
Mayor Rodríguez highlighted the station's historical role in the founding of Portbou and the desire to revitalize the infrastructure, which has been operational since 1878. The border location and its connection to the Mediterranean Corridor make Portbou a "strategic" hub for freight activity and railway interoperability. Furthermore, given that Portbou lacks its own high school, this course will enhance the local educational offerings.
