Else Beekman
The petition for the extension of the coastal train in the province of Málaga has already collected more than 10,000 signatures on its first day. The call went viral on social media, where hundreds of users signed and shared the petition. The regional newspaper SUR took the initiative.
At the request of the large international community in the province of Málaga, the petition was also amended so that foreigners can also sign it with their passports.
Broad support
Before the newspaper made the petition public, it already received the support of more than 500 professionals from various sectors, mainly related to mobility, transport and infrastructure. Many entrepreneurs in the tourism sector and technology also joined en masse. This broad support shows the commitment of citizens for the future and sustainable development of mobility in the province of Málaga.
Clear message for governments
The aim of the manifesto is to make both the Spanish government, which has the authority to make this major project possible, and other authorities aware of the urgent need for the construction of the coastal train. After decades of political indifference, the people of Málaga want to send a clear message: politicians and other administrators must take action now. In March, the central government of Spain indicated that it considered the project to extend the coastal train in Málaga ‘expensive and complex’. At the same time, government spokespeople carefully avoided asking whether they would promote this option. According to proponents of the extension of the Cercanias line, for decades the central government has only come up with excuses, difficulties, ifs and buts when it comes to the coastal train.
The Impact of the Coastal Train
The manifesto points out that the coastal strip of the Costa del Sol has grown into a metropolitan area with 1.5 million registered inhabitants. In addition, approximately 14 million tourists visit the region annually and tens of thousands of temporary residents. This large metropolis stretching from Málaga to beyond Estepona is one of the fastest growing urban areas in Europe. And while the population is growing and residential areas are being built everywhere, the infrastructure remains the same. This causes ongoing traffic problems that need to be addressed urgently.
The call for improved mobility
Mobility, together with employment and housing, is one of the biggest challenges for the province. Only an adequate public transport network can reduce traffic congestion and harmful gas emissions. Málaga, one of Spain’s largest attractions, is struggling with historic shortages in its railway network. The route of the current coastal train between Málaga and Fuengirola is the most used in Spain. While Marbella is the only municipality in Spain with more than 100,000 inhabitants that does not have its own train connection. The A7 coastal road gets stuck almost every day and the only alternative for those travelling longer distances is the expensive AP-7 toll road. However, this only has an exit at Calahonda, Marbella and Estepona, so anyone who needs to go to areas in between will still have to take the busy coastal road.
Expansion of the coastal train
The coastal train should not only connect the towns along the Costa del Sol from Nerja in the east to Estepona in the west, but also be extended to Campo de Gibraltar and Algeciras. Málaga society massively supports this call, comparable to previous successes such as the creation of the University of Málaga and the arrival of the AVE high-speed train and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Call to politics
It is now up to the Spanish government and all other governments, regardless of their political affiliation, to respond to this collective wish of Málaga. Public representatives must put aside their disagreements and work together towards a better, more sustainable, more inclusive and more just Málaga.
Do you want to add your voice to the petition? That’s possible here!
Also read: Will the toll for the AP-7 along the Costa del Sol finally be abolished?