Thousands of residents in Salamanca, Spain, gathered in the Plaza Mayor on January 21 to protest against the deteriorating railway connections with Madrid.
They also demanded a fast train to Portugal and the reopening of the Silver Route in the western part of the peninsula.
The rally, attended by representatives from all political parties, highlighted the urgent need for improved frequencies to Madrid and the completion of the train connection to Portugal.
The President of the Junta de Castilla y León, Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, stressed the importance of addressing these issues.
He said: “It is more urgent than ever to increase frequencies with Madrid, but also to finish the train connection with Portugal and to bet on the Silver Route and the Atlantic Corridor.”
However, the protest was not without controversy, as the regional president faced booing from the crowd when he appeared on video during the demonstration.
The rally coincided with demonstrations in eleven other cities across the western peninsula, all urging the Spanish Government to allow the reopening of the Ruta de la Plata (Silver Route) by 2040, nearly 40 years after its closure.
Salamanca’s protesters demanded comprehensive railway improvements in the province, drawing support from key figures in the PSOE, including national deputy David Serrada and municipal spokesman José Luis Mateos. Even the People’s Party (PP)-governed institutions, such as the City Council, Provincial Council, and Regional Government, joined the demonstration, signalling a united call for change.
The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, attempted to reassure the people of Salamanca with a video message on Twitter, stating that a solution is “very close in time”.
He referred to the recovery of the fourth frequency of Alvia trains between Salamanca and Madrid, scheduled for the first quarter of the year. However, this message was met with scepticism, with the PP mayor of Salamanca, Carlos García Carbayo, accusing the government and Renfe of making “improvised last-minute promises” and misleading the public.
The manifesto presented at the rally denounced the “unacceptable” isolation of Salamanca by train and called for the restoration of the fourth connection of the Alvia train to Madrid before the pandemic, as well as the creation of a fifth service in both directions.
The demands also extended to the integration of Salamanca into the Atlantic Corridor, emphasising its role as a crucial route, connecting Portugal and Spain with the rest of Europe.
While the rally in Salamanca focused on immediate railway improvements, it was part of a broader movement across the western peninsula, with Extremadura expressing disappointment at the Central Government’s perceived lack of interest in its needs and interests.
The fate of the Silver Route, which played a vital role in the 19th century, hangs in the balance. The European Commission’s recent decision to include the Astorga to Plasencia stretch in the Ten-T network has injected hope for its resurrection, but challenges remain, including the need for economic funds and widespread support to undertake the complete rehabilitation of the closed track.
