The transfer of Rodalies will require a long technical work, although that part will only work if it has the corresponding political impetus. From what emerges from the first meeting of the political commission, both the Government and the Generalitat are fully committed to making what was promised a reality.
The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, and the Minister of Territory, Ester Capella, have exhibited understanding and willingness to agree after the first meeting of this political commission that will meet periodically. Its mission will be to validate the steps taken by the technical working groups that will begin working from now on.
“We are not here to mess around,” Puente made clear when leaving the meeting, in a joint appearance with Capella, a true declaration of intent since in recent years it was usual for the councilor’s predecessors to appear for a one hand and those of the minister, on the other.
“Neither the Government nor the Generalitat are going to stop working for a single day on the completion of the transfer, we are in a constant and permanent dialogue,” Puente insisted.
The working groups will be established during the first quarter of the year. There will be six technical commissions in total in charge of shaping the future transfer: operator, railway services, Rodalies plan, infrastructure, economic affairs and legal-administrative matters.
One of the first steps that will be taken in the long transfer process will be the creation of the joint company Rodalies de Catalunya, with representatives from both administrations. In the document signed this morning, six months are given to draft the statutes of the commercial company that will one day take control of the Rodalies railway service. In the wording of these statutes are some of the most difficult aspects of the transfer, such as personnel.