Carlos Alonso, spokesman for the CC group in the Cabildo, demands European and state funding for the Southern train with the aim of promoting the infrastructure that will improve mobility on the Island. He defends that “it is essential to request funds for the recovery of the European Union (EU) earmarked for sustainable mobility for the construction of the South train” and points out that “state funds must be requested. Last year we lost 5 million euros because the Cabildo did not ask for them.
He agrees with the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Government of the Canary Islands, Sebastián Franquis, when he described this opportunity as unique and said that it would be a huge historical mistake to lose it. “We share that we are facing a historic opportunity for Tenerife and Gran Canaria. If the Cabildo does not request the money and we stay behind, the culprit will have a first and last name: Pedro Martín and the PSOE of Tenerife».
In this regard, Alonso highlights that there is consensus in the public administrations to support the trains of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, “from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria -with the favorable vote of the PSOE and Podemos-, to the Parliament of the Canary Islands and the Congress of Deputies . The only ones who oppose the South train project are the PSOE of Tenerife and Sí Podemos Canarias. And that is not for objective or technical reasons, but because Sí Podemos Canarias threatened to break the pact with Pedro Martín.
The example of Gran Canaria
Once again, Alonso accuses the president of the Cabildo that “he is putting his interests before those of Tenerife. We cannot be left behind in terms of mobility. He points out that the Cabildo de Gran Canaria approved last Friday, unanimously, requesting European funds to build its train. “In their motion they point out that they cannot wait for decisions from other island territories,” highlights the spokesman for the Canary Coalition.
In this context, it demands that what was approved by the Plenary in February be complied with, when, with the support of the PP and the abstention of Citizens, the CCa initiative to include the South train in the General Interest Railway Network was approved. The PSOE and Sí Podemos Canarias voted against.
Carlos Alonso reproaches that “we have not yet been called to define the roadmap, as agreed in plenary, and we fear that the project has lost three years by not starting the processing of the Environmental Impact Statement.” The works can be done in phases «and we have said that you can start with the train-tram between San Isidro and Los Cristianos, because the project is already drafted. Funds must be requested from the European Union and the State to start it up as soon as possible », he reiterates.
