Linares-Baeza to host railway defense protest

Protest organizers in Linares-Baeza and Castilla-La Mancha have scheduled a demonstration for Saturday, September 5, to advocate for sustainable and public railway services. The mobilization aims to combat the perceived dismantling of rail infrastructure in eastern Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha.

Concerns have been raised regarding the upcoming Algeciras-Zaragoza Railway Highway works, which are set to begin on September 6. Local officials, including the Mayor of Linares-Baeza, Melchor Villalba, warn that these works could leave the area without rail connections for 15 months.

Demands from the platforms include guaranteeing rail service during construction and rejecting the Montoro bypass as a high-speed connection. Protesters argue the bypass would harm the environment and local agriculture while reducing services to Linares-Baeza and Vilches. Instead, they propose the Mora-Alcázar route to better connect Toledo with Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha.