On Wednesday, 13 January, the Secretary of State for the Environment of the Spanish Government, Hugo Morán, met with the anti-TAV platforms of Álava and Navarra in favour of the train. In response to the platform proposal, Morán has pointed out that the Ministry's strategic approach aims to "improve and adapt current infrastructures".

"The attitudes expressed by the Secretary of State for the Environment are a sign of responsible political responsibility", valued by the members of the platform against the TAV. "If the institutions follow this line, we hope that, with optimism and in the short term, decisions will be made adapted to the new times."

Four main concerns

At the meeting, the representative of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge was transferred to four "fundamental" themes.

Firstly, you have been informed of the "serious environmental impacts" involved in the construction of a new railway platform for the exclusive use of the High-Speed Train in Navarra and Álava. Anti-TAV activists have explained that this new planned platform would be built next to the current railway line.

They have also expressed their "concern and concern" over the affected municipalities and councils. Activists believe that the construction of a new rail corridor can lead to expropriation, serious environmental conditions, isolation of rural areas, depopulation, relocation of companies and "other negative effects". They have also asked him to halt the works of those already being built in the area.

Thirdly, they propose an alternative to building a new platform: "Adequacy of current roads for the use of all types of trains; regional, medium and long distance, high performance and goods".

And finally, they asked him to choose "alternative 0" instead of building the new railway platform, which is "to improve and adapt the current routes".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upgrading and upgrading of railway tracks

The platforms against the TAV of Álava and Navarra have positively valued the news that has arrived these days from La Rioja: The President of La Rioja, Concha Andreu, the Minister of Transport and Mobility and Urban Agenda, José Luis Ábalos, and the president of ADIF, Isabel Pardo Vera, have signed a protocol that will allow the arrival of the TAV to Logroño in the short term from the current routes.

The same has been said for Álava and Navarra: they propose a solution based on the adequacy and improvement of the current railway lines. But this is not a new claim, as since these projects were presented, the anti-TAV platforms have reaffirmed the defence of the current railway line.

"This solution also makes it possible to unite the territory and connect towns, regions, cities and industrial sites, with respect for the environment and with economic costs that are viable for the future", they said.

During the meeting, the Secretary of State for the Environment has transferred to the platforms that the Ministry's strategic approach "aims to improve and adapt current infrastructures, before building new infrastructures, such as the use of passengers and goods, without duplicating infrastructure".