Puente pressures France to reopen Canfranc: “We need dialogue and commitment”

The connections between France and Spain have been one of the main points to be discussed at the meeting held this Friday by the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, and the President of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, in which the President of the French region of New Aquitaine, Alain Russet, also participated. Urging the reopening of Somport after the sinkhole in the RN-134 , which is already under construction and is estimated to take place in January 2025, although in a staggered manner, and the need to promote the reopening of the Zaragoza-Canfranc-Pau railway connection, have been the focus of the talks.

On this last issue, Puente has highlighted the deadline set by the European Union to implement a basic railway network that includes this Canfranc-Pau line, which should therefore be operational before 2030. However, France continues to maintain 2032 as the approximate date for reopening and has even “spoken of 2042”. For this reason, he has demanded a “stable dialogue” from the French Government and has requested “more European funding” so that France “has an incentive to meet the deadlines”.

“The central Pyrenean connection makes perfect sense and is easy. The section that France would have to develop is very small and would provide opportunities for the Spanish territory from a strategic point of view. For our part, we will do our homework and we will meet the deadlines, but we need commitment from France ,” the minister stressed.

THE REGION OF NOUVE-AQUITAINE CONTINUES TO FIGHT TO SPEED UP THE REOPENING

For his part, the President of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Alain Russet, has expressed his hope that the French Government “will do its bit” in terms of funding to speed up a reopening for which the region “is fighting”. He explained that a public inquiry began a month ago and studies are being carried out to check the solidity of the foundations at the station in the French commune of Bedous.

He also stressed the agreement reached with Adif for the company to undertake the works on the Somport railway tunnel on both the Spanish and French sides, something “very important” because after this tunnel “there will only be 30 kilometres to Bedous”. “With this we will have gained a lot”, said Russet.

Once the international Zaragoza-Canfranc-Pau line, which covers 310 kilometres, is fully operational, the feasibility of establishing a freight route with the Mediterranean Corridor is being analysed, as well as the functional improvement of the arterial railway network of the Aragonese capital, to meet the expected increase in traffic.

In addition, the Ministry is currently undertaking work to completely renovate the Huesca-Canfranc line, which could be reopened before the end of the year, although this will depend on the weather, as Minister Puente has pointed out.

FRANCE IS WORKING TO MAKE THE RN-134 “A SAFER ROAD”

Regarding the reopening of the Somport tunnel after the closure due to the sinkhole on the RN-134, from the French side, Russet has guaranteed that the work is focused on achieving “a safer road” and has scheduled the opening for January, although he has not responded to whether it will only be for passenger cars or whether trucks will also be able to pass through. A fact that worries the Government of Aragon due to the importance of this border crossing. “In three months vehicles will be able to pass through and we would like the deadlines for trucks to be accelerated ,” said Azcón.

As an alternative to the Somport tunnel, truck convoys have been crossing the Portalet since 8 October following French authorisation, although limited to the transport of live animals, straw and fodder. However, the transport of dangerous goods to France continues to be diverted via the border crossing at Irún (Basque Country).