La Comunidad critica al Ministerio de Transportes por el tren de Móstoles-Navalcarnero

The Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, has met with the Mayor of Navalcarnero, also a socialist, José Luis Adell, to discuss the expansion of the C-5 suburban line from Móstoles to that town, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, and whose project has been on hold.

In response, the regional spokesperson, Miguel Ángel García Martín, stated that the Government is engaging in «a charade» and «posturing» by considering the possibility of reviving the project to extend the suburban line from Móstoles to Navalcarnero, which was abandoned 15 years ago by the regional government.

During the press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, García Martín argued that the Community has been «offering the already built infrastructure to the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility throughout the legislature, which is «competent» to undertake a theoretical extension.

He also added that, if the Transport Minister, Óscar Puente, wants to «improve the suburban rail network» in Madrid, he indeed has «an opportunity» with the Navalcarnero railway project, but he must also address the «issues» that occur «every day» on the existing network.

«Less photos and more investment», García Martín retorted.

The project to expand the suburban rail network from Móstoles to Navalcarnero, passing through Arroyomolinos, was a personal endeavor of the former regional president, Esperanza Aguirre, who awarded it to the construction company OHL in 2009 for 369 million euros without consulting the Ministry of Public Works.

Construction began that same year in Móstoles, where tunnels were dug to bury the entire line as it passed through the city, as well as in Navalcarnero, where the route, which was at the surface, was delimited and fenced off, and the El Pinar and La Dehesa stations were started.

However, this route, which was supposed to be 15 kilometers long, have seven stations, and be open by the end of 2015, was halted by OHL in 2010, and almost 15 years after the start of this project, the residents of Navalcarnero, Móstoles, and Arroyomolinos still don’t have this connection.

The Community of Madrid, which had to pay 162.5 million euros to the concessionaire in 2022 and has also allocated up to 170,000 euros annually just for surveillance and maintenance of the tracks, decided last year to throw in the towel after several legal setbacks and proposed to pass the responsibility back to the Ministry.