Oarsoalde residents protest decade of poor rail service due to high-speed rail works

The Oarsoaldeko AHTren Aurkako Taldea has denounced the continued degradation of commuter train services due to ongoing high-speed rail (AHT) construction works. ADIF has decided to completely suspend commuter services this summer, a move the group claims causes “great losses” for local citizens.

To compensate for the suspension, bus services have been implemented, but critics argue these do not meet the necessary schedules and result in significantly longer travel times. Residents report that stations such as Loilola and Martutene are being left isolated, and connections from Hernani are unreliable, with buses often arriving after trains have already departed.

The group highlights that these service issues have persisted for ten years, characterized by reduced frequency, delays, and project halts. They expressed a lack of trust in Renfe and noted that intervention by the regional government has not yielded improvements. The long-term high-speed rail project, known as Euskal Y, has faced decades of controversy and delays since its inception, with critics arguing the infrastructure serves specific interests rather than the general public.