What did Pedro Nuno Santos do most positively as minister and where did he disappoint on the track?
There are three aspects that stand out on a more positive note. The first is the fact that rail has consistently been brought to the center of the political debate on mobility and transport, always from a perspective of greater efficiency and sustainability. We should not forget that for many years the railway was just one of many ‘clichés’ often used in political discourse.
Secondly, it relates to the National Railway Plan. A strategic vision for rail must necessarily be viewed globally and not, as has become practice, by taking individual measures.
Thirdly, it has succeeded in creating the necessary conditions to pay off CP’s historical debt, a problem that has persisted for decades due to the state’s failure to meet its obligations, not only as a shareholder but also with regard to public service provided by that company. . company.
The negative point is that it is clear that we have not managed to give more momentum to the planned investments in rail infrastructure, both in terms of their implementation and in terms of guaranteeing their concrete financing. Unfortunately, we are regularly confronted with successive delays in important railway works that are planned or underway in our country.
There are still two years to go before new trains arrive and work on the lines continues. Are there options to make trains more attractive for travelers and goods?
The attractiveness of the train as a means of transporting people and goods necessarily depends on its reliability, punctuality and competitiveness compared to other means of transport. If we want to make rail transport more attractive, we must therefore take measures that impact potential users at those levels. In the field of passenger transport, in addition to the above, provide more comfort and a better timetable. In freight transport: creating concrete measures that make rail transport more competitive with road transport, in particular as regards compensation for the use of rail infrastructure.
What needs to be done to ensure that trains gain more prominence on the parties’ agenda?
This is a good question to ask political parties. You don’t have to look far to see how the railway is strategically recognized as the most efficient and effective means of transporting people and goods. This has been the case in Europe and in many other countries around the world. Very close to us, for example, there are countries that are already taking concrete measures to limit less efficient transport on short and medium distances, preferring its replacement by rail. Trying to answer your question, I believe that the parties must have a correct understanding of what the railway is and what its real and potential purpose is for our future, not only from a perspective of sustainability and economic dynamism, but also as a factor of the social and geographical cohesion of our country.
Source: DN
