Isidre Also, general coordinator of the Mancomunitat Penedès-Garraf, has questioned whether the proposed Línia Orbital Ferroviària should be a priority in a column published at 04:55 on Tuesday 29 September. For commuters in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Mataró and other towns outside Barcelona, the debate concerns whether public funding should go first towards a cross-county rail route or improvements to existing transport links.

Also wrote that the proposal is intended to create a continuous journey between Vilanova i la Geltrú and Mataró, or between the Maresme and Garraf counties, without passengers having to travel through Barcelona Sants station.

“We need to talk about infrastructure. We must weigh up how necessary it is and whether its cost is justified in budgetary and sustainability terms.”

Call to rank transport against other needs

The Mancomunitat Penedès-Garraf, an association of local authorities in the Penedès and Garraf area, says mobility needs are substantial, both on existing infrastructure and on public transport connections between the coast and inland areas.

However, Also argues that a desired facility is not automatically a necessary one. He says political commitments ahead of the municipal elections in May 2027 should be based on evidenced priorities and available budgets.

  • housing
  • healthcare
  • education
  • the needs of an ageing population

Also's position is that the Orbital project should be assessed alongside those needs rather than treated as an automatic commitment. He says public authorities should identify shortfalls, set an order of priority and act accordingly.

The column does not set out a timetable, cost or formal decision for the proposed railway line.

Primary sources: mataro.cat. Reported by viaempresa.cat.