The leaders of four key municipalities on the Costa del Sol have expressed their "surprise" and "concern" over Adif's plan to suspend the commuter train service between Málaga and Fuengirola for six months, beginning in late 2027. Mayors Francisco de la Torre (Málaga), Juan Antonio Lara (Benalmádena), Margarita del Cid (Torremolinos), and Ana Mula (Fuengirola) have jointly sent a letter to the General Directorate of the Railway Sector, under the Ministry of Transport, requesting an urgent working meeting and demanding "transparency" from the central Government.
In their letter, the mayors, all from the Popular Party, recall that they had already requested a meeting in July 2024 to address necessary infrastructure improvements. They state that, in the response received in August of the same year, they were informed of ongoing studies and a commitment to hold technical meetings. Therefore, they regret learning about the prolonged closure through the media, without the information being previously shared with the affected municipalities.
We understand and share the need to improve the railway network of the Costa del Sol, but we believe that an action of this scope, which directly affects the daily mobility of thousands of residents, workers, and visitors, as well as the economic and tourist activity of our municipalities, requires not only technical planning but also transparency, coordination, and anticipation in information.
The mayors insist on the "essential" need to receive a "complete and detailed" plan of the scheduled actions, including the timeline, phases, and specific periods of service disruption. They also request precise identification of the affected stations, especially in Torremolinos, where the line has five stops that are "key for local mobility".
“"Above all, we are concerned about finding out through the media, despite having requested dialogue with the ministry for years. The mobility of the entire Costa del Sol is at stake."
The mayor of Torremolinos, Margarita del Cid, emphasized that the Cercanías is an "essential" infrastructure for the daily mobility of residents and visitors, and called for "planning, coordination, and, of course, institutional respect." She insisted that the works should be carried out "simultaneously as much as possible" to minimize inconvenience to citizens.
Finally, the mayors consider it crucial to know the alternative transport options planned to ensure mobility during the works. They demand a "realistic, adequately sized, and sufficient" plan that can absorb current demand, especially during peak hours, and request a "rigorous evaluation" of the impact of the works on the coastal corridor of the Costa del Sol, both on daily mobility and on traffic and the local economy.
