The mayors of Bilbao and Vitoria-Gasteiz consider that the agreement signed with the Spanish Government for the underground arrival of the TAV in both capitals is “positive”, although they have warned that it is a “declaration of good intentions” and that “everything is to do”.
The mayors of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Gorka Urtaranand from Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburtohope that the protocols signed this Wednesday between the Basque institutions and the Spanish Government for the underground arrival of the High Speed Train (TAV) to both capitals represent a “turning point” to make this project “a reality”, after “many years of unfulfilled promises”.
“We have some misgivings, because the project has not materialized for decades. Today’s agreement is a declaration of good intentions and it is something positive, but now the facts are missing,” Urtaran stressed in an interview on the program Ganbara from Radio Euskadi.
He also highlighted that today’s signing represents “a turning point, because the non-railway work remains in the hands of the Basque Government”.
However, he has considered that it is urgent to put out to tender the basic project for the future Vitoria-Gasteiz station and “to start the works as soon as possible”.
As to the foundershipUrtaran has recalled that they have a company that they created for this project and in which the four institutions involved participate, which will bear the expenses.
“50% of the total work will be assumed by the State, 25% by the Basque Government, 15% by the Gasteiz City Council and the remaining 10% by the Álava Provincial Council”, he explained.
For his part, the mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto, has expressed himself in similar terms and has affirmed that the agreement signed with the Spanish Government represents “a point of no return”, but also “a starting point”, since “everything is to be done”.
In this sense, he has valued that the works of the Bilbao and Vitoria stations have been left in the hands of the Basque Government, but he has warned that the informative study and, subsequently, the tender for the project have yet to be approved in order to start the works. “Now everything remains to be done,” he insisted.
Asked about the absence of the deputy general of Bizkaia, Unai Rementeria, at this afternoon’s event, Aburto has denied that there are discrepancies with the Diputación on financing of the future underground station of Abando.
“50% is paid by the State and the rest is in the hands of the Basque administrations,” he pointed out.
Finally, Aburto and Urtaran have avoided talking about deadlines, although the Minister of Transport, Raquel Sánchez, has assured this afternoon that the forecasts suggest that the works will end at the end of 2026 or in 2027.
Source: Eitb
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