The "Railways, Cities and the Environment" conference, held at the iconic Estació de França and organized by The New Barcelona Post in collaboration with Renfe and the Fundació Catalunya Europa, highlighted the opportunities and challenges of rail transport in the context of future cities. The participants emphasized that cities and their metropolitan areas face issues such as pollution, lack of access to housing, and social cohesion. In this context, mobility, and particularly railways, is seen as a key component in crafting solutions.
Debates
Experts discuss the key role of trains in tackling climate change and improving quality of life in future cities at the Estació de França
Railways: Driving Force for Sustainable Mobility and Urban Connectivity
Experts from various disciplines agreed that railways can play a crucial role not only in combating climate change but also in urban integration and improving the quality of life in cities. Pau Solanilla, consultant and partner at Harmon, argued that railways can be a key element in achieving a balance between competitiveness, sustainability, and equity in cities, highlighting its cohesive role and its potential to address housing access issues.
Manuel Gómez Acosta, Renfe’s advisor, emphasized the train’s contribution to the decarbonization of transport, noting that while mobility generates 25% of greenhouse gas emissions, trains emit less than 0.5%. He added that the Cercanías network functions as a "metropolitan metro," essential for territorial development. Additionally, both Acosta and journalist Cristina Buesa stressed the importance of workers in ensuring the railway system’s smooth operation, a key factor in the debate over the transfer of competencies of Cercanías to the Generalitat.
Similarly, Dolors Camats, director of the Fundació Catalunya Europa, highlighted that rail is a fundamental tool in the fight against the climate emergency and insisted that progress in this direction is neither fast enough nor adequate. Camats advocated for greater citizen participation in the debates on mobility policies and the future of rail transport. She also recalled Pasqual Maragall's vision, where cities should not only manage their local space but act as global players, capable of influencing international debates.
During the second panel, Dr. Mercè Rius emphasized the role of railways as an ally in combating climate change but warned that climate itself poses a risk to railway infrastructure. Researcher Jordi Solé added that extreme weather events will become increasingly frequent, endangering the resilience of current infrastructure.
Another key topic was the integration of railways into urban areas. The debate focused on whether rail lines should pass through cities or be buried underground, with experts expressing differing opinions. Solanilla argued that undergrounding is often not feasible, while others advocated for its necessity in specific municipalities.
Finally, the need to restore night rail connections, such as the Barcelona-Amsterdam route, was highlighted. Although planned for 2025, it has been postponed until 2026. These projects are part of a broader push for more sustainable mobility, with rail playing an increasingly vital role in decarbonizing transport and integrating urban and metropolitan areas.
In conclusion, the conference emphasized that railways are a fundamental tool for transforming cities and addressing global challenges related to climate change, sustainable mobility, and social cohesion.
