21 Sep, 2023 @ 14:34
1 min read

Spain scraps plans for ‘congestion charge’ on public motorways and ‘will vow to improve train and public transport options instead’

Warning for drivers in Spain after gangs assault and rob tourists on these motorway services

SPAIN has scrapped plans to implement a ‘congestion charge’ on its public motorways, in a relief to millions of road users.

The Spanish government has requested to the EU that the proposal, which would have come into force next year, be removed from the Bloc’s so-called ‘Recovery Plan’.

The European Commission has accepted Spain’s request after the policy became a major talking point in the run-up to July’s national elections, reports El Pais.

The plan was designed to deter people from using their cars and motorways in a bid to reduce emissions, but was hated among large swathes of the public since its announcement in 2021.

Brussels is now expected to commit Spain to implementing other environmentally-friendly and energy saving measures instead.

This includes bringing in new legislation to improve the planning and running of public transport across the country.

Among the measures being discussed is an ‘obligation to implement a rail highway development programme’ in viable travel corridors, as well as increasing the number of goods that are transported by freight train.

It comes after public transport by boat was suggested as a remedy for the congestion on the deadly A-7 road in Malaga earlier this month.

The idea came from the new president of the Municipalities Association of the Costa del Sol, Manuel Cardeña.

He sees it as a good way of solving high season hold-ups on both the A-7 and AP-7.

“I’m committed to talking about maritime connections between municipalities to unclog the roads, especially as there are not many alternatives,” said Cardeña.

Those options include trying to promote public transport or trying to revitalise old plans for a coastal train service.

Removing tolls on the AP-7 Mediterranean highway has also been mooted to get traffic off the A-7- frequently voted by motorists as the worst road in Spain.

“What is certain is that the Costa del Sol runs the risk of being an uncomfortable destination unless solutions are produced for those who live here and for those who come to see us,” observed Cardeña.

Sea connections could be set up at existing ports like Benalmadena, Marbella, and Fuengirola.

“We have to think about making a decision and to produce a visionary plan that everybody can agree on to serve all municipalities,” he added.

The Costa del Sol Hoteliers Association(Aehcos) however regards a coastal train as the best way of solving travel problems in the region.

Association vice-president, Javier Hernandez, said: “A train link would be the most beneficial but would need financing.”

Click here to read more Spain News from The Olive Press.

Laurence Dollimore

Laurence Dollimore is a Spanish-speaking, NCTJ-trained journalist with almost a decade’s worth of experience.
The London native has a BA in International Relations from the University of Leeds and and an MA in the same subject from Queen Mary University London.
He earned his gold star diploma in multimedia journalism at the prestigious News Associates in London in 2016, before immediately joining the Olive Press at their offices on the Costa del Sol.
After a five-year stint, Laurence returned to the UK to work as a senior reporter at the Mail Online, where he remained for two years before coming back to the Olive Press as Digital Editor in 2023.
He continues to work for the biggest newspapers in the UK, who hire him to investigate and report on stories in Spain.
These include the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mail Online, Mail on Sunday and The Sun and Sun Online.
He has broken world exclusives on everything from the Madeleine McCann case to the anti-tourism movement in Tenerife.

GOT A STORY? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call +34 951 273 575 Twitter: @olivepress

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