On Tuesday, the Catalan government dusted off one of the long-standing projects that has been stalled for years. The Consell Executiu (the Catalan government's executive body) gave a boost to the Eix Transversal Ferroviari de Catalunya (Cross-Sector Railway of Catalonia), the major railway project for inland Catalonia that aims to connect Lleida and Girona without passing through Barcelona, a project that had been shelved for over fifteen years. Now, the government has tasked Infraestructuras Ferroviarias de Catalunya (Ifercat) with updating the technical studies that were carried out at the time, with the goal of reactivating the project. La proposta de l’eix transversal ferroviari See more Font: Generalitat de Catalunya / Graphic: Eduard Forroll Isanda The objective, therefore, is to update a plan that, according to the infrastructure plan for 2050 The plan recently presented by the government of Salvador Illa would connect Alguaire Airport with Girona Airport, passing through Lleida, Mollerussa, Tàrrega, Cervera, Igualada, Manresa, Vic, and Santa Coloma de Farners. The network, which the government intends to be suitable for both passengers and freight, would represent a revolution in rail connectivity between medium-sized cities and in freight transport, as it would bypass the already congested Barcelona metropolitan area. The Catalan government aims to have the studies updated by 2028 so that construction projects can begin between that year and the next, with completion expected by 2030. From then on, if all goes well and budget is available, the works could be put out to tender and construction could begin. The update of the technical studies—which will address issues such as passenger and freight demand, the compatibility of freight and high-speed traffic, the creation of logistics terminals, and possible route alternatives—will cost €5.46 million. With the reactivation of this project, the Catalan government is taking action after the Ministry of Transport
