While the statistics may suggest otherwise, the evident rise in local users (and an increasing number of tourists) from gratuity (even with the reduction of 50% bonds) indicates that the present circumstances for Tenerife’s insular transport company (Titsa) are not as optimistic as one might assume. Moreover, there looms a potential threat which, as perceived by unions, could mark a significant turning point—both negatively impacting the company that relies on the island council and its commuters.
The discourse now shifts to the Canary Islands, represented by spokespersons Clemente García Marrero and Mario Perera Santana (a union representative for the Güímar station), who assert that the North and South Train projects in Tenerife could see the involvement of private enterprises for routes connecting destinations like Masca, Teno, Anaga, and others.
Clemente García emphasises that this trend towards privatisation aligns with the long-standing agenda of “CC regarding Titsa.” He highlights that, apart from the period under Enrique Arriaga (CS) during the previous administration in the Ministry of Transport and Mobility of the Cabildo due to his pact with the PSOE, nationalists have consistently pushed for this agenda at both island and regional levels in their agreements with past administrations from the PP or PSOE. The approach has been a continuous policy trend that was nearly unalterable between 2019 and 2023. They are not only fostering this “under-the-radar privatisation”, but they are also manipulating services, routes, and frequencies, enticing the public to ultimately embrace grand projects that attract substantial funding and thus benefit businesses—albeit not local firms, such as small hardware stores, but larger corporations, especially with the forthcoming trains.
In this context, they voice grievances regarding ongoing issues, noting, “that result in longer and frustrating commutes, such as when someone travelling from Buenavista to Santa Cruz or vice versa is compelled to take two buses because of a mandatory stop at the Icod station.” This situation, as lamented, is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in the media on the island, and it contributes to another major concern: the perception that user data is “manipulated” or misused—where, in reality, it is often the same person using their card at the machines for a journey that previously needed only a single record and one guagua.
According to García, the situation with Titsa mirrors that of the “privatisation” occurring in health care and education, which “dilutes the integrity of public services, leading people to accept and view positively the entry of private companies.” He anticipates that a similar fate awaits the trains, asserting that financial considerations dictate such outcomes. He also cautions that the Company Committee, the Unions, and Titsa employees will firmly resist this initiative.
On-demand transport, “another step” towards privatisation
Additionally, both representatives reject the current conception of transport as it becomes increasingly commercialised, which they argue ultimately incurs higher costs and adversely affects users and public service. “It is yet another advance towards privatisation.” In this regard, Perera Santana cites the example of the four Titsa routes that were removed from the municipality of Candelaria, which, following complaints, must now be reinstated because numerous users were adversely affected “to favour that privatised model.” He stresses the need to work alongside taxi drivers, for instance, by making late-night fares much more reasonable to supplement routes, while also highlighting the insufficient number of routes and frequencies during the night, alongside the fact that many stations (including their toilets and other facilities) shut down after a certain hour on some islands, leaving little alternative public transport in specific time slots.
García points to how guaguas are operated in places such as Vitoria (despite the availability of trains) as a model for effective synergy, cautioning, alongside his colleague, about the impending shortage of drivers that will impact the service.
**Concerns Over Mobility Management**
Planned retirement schemes, although supplemented with gratuities, seem to have been poorly managed, as stated by some. They feel that the approach taken by the Minister of Mobility, Eulalia García (CC), and the president, Rosa Dávila (CC), is lacking. According to their perspective, if there is no change in their engagement with the Company Committee, it will lead to a strong backlash in the forthcoming months. They don’t dismiss the possibility of demonstrations or even strikes. As they pointed out, “CC has consistently focused on grand projects and developments, like train systems, while quietly attempting to privatise an essential service that should remain public.”
Representatives of grassroots trade unions have also raised concerns regarding the reduction of stops for trains heading north and south. This alteration will necessitate effective additional connections; otherwise, as warned by the Cabildo technicians, users may refrain from utilising them. They further highlight the ramifications of this infrastructure, which only permits train vehicles, given that the minimal space they require is almost equivalent to creating an extra highway in both regions, due to the room they will occupy.
Additionally, they argue that the diminishing number of guaguas in the neighbourhoods—particularly in the mid-island areas—coupled with the lack of services when employees from major retailers and other sectors finish their shifts, creates a trajectory favouring privatisation and the rationalisation of extensive works. The two union representatives believe that the various stations should be far better interconnected, allowing passengers to return to their departure points without needing to catch another bus.
