The mayor of Figueres, Jordi Masquef, has expressed his indignation at the Spanish government's decision not to include the Empordà region or the rest of the Girona counties in the new bus corridor map. Via social media, Masquef described the situation as a "disregard" towards the province, feeling like the "state's scapegoats" as it is the only province on the mainland without any planned routes.
The central government has released a plan featuring 31 new state-owned bus corridors, adding to the three previously approved. This new map of road passenger transport concessions, designed to serve over 30 million people, has overlooked the Girona counties, making them the only province on the mainland without a connection through these routes.
The plan includes six new lines that cross Catalonia, such as the one connecting Barcelona with Lleida and Huesca, or the one linking Teruel with Castellón and Barcelona. Long-distance routes are also planned, connecting Barcelona with cities like Pontevedra, Salamanca, Santiago de Compostela, Santander, Bilbao, San Sebastián, Seville, Malaga, or Huelva. The aim is for all these corridors to be tendered within two years, with contracts lasting between 7 and 10 years.
These new concessions aim for a "generalized reduction in fares," with an estimated average decrease of 22% per user. Once the one-month public consultation period concludes and the necessary reports are received, the proposal will be submitted to the Council of Ministers for final approval.
Concessionary companies will be required to implement an operational support system that is interoperable with a centralized platform currently being developed by the Ministry. This system is expected to significantly improve user information, including real-time data, and be operational by the end of 2027. Secretary of State José Antonio Santano emphasized that the public information process aims to "gather opinions to improve" the map, assuring that current stops and frequencies will be maintained, and direct routes will be added to speed up journeys.
