Railway infrastructure disputes in León province

Tensions have risen regarding the management of railway infrastructure and services in the province of León. Initially, political criticism emerged following the closure of Adif’s training facilities in the region, which are being relocated to Valladolid. The Partido Popular accused the government of dismantling local services, while unions called for repairs to maintain the existing site's habitability.

Subsequent disputes have focused on the León-Astorga section, where the Corredor Oeste Ruta de la Plata platform denounced Adif’s plan to destroy 35,000 railway sleepers. The group claims the materials are in good condition and argues that reusing them to reopen the Astorga-La Bañeza stretch as a freight branch is essential for regional reindustrialization. They characterized the decision to replace and discard the sleepers rather than repurposing them as a “misuse of public money” that ignores the economic needs and mandates of local councils.

The platform further specified that many of these sleepers were manufactured as recently as 2018 and 2023. They contend that Adif intends to discard these materials during the renovation of the León-La Granja line, a move they described as “una malversación de dinero público en toda regla” (a total embezzlement of public money). The group asserts that destroying these assets sabotages logistics and industrial development plans for Astorga and the surrounding areas, particularly following the closure of a local sugar refinery.