Overview
- The Spanish competition watchdog approved Adif’s plan to liberalize the Madrid–Galicia corridor with safeguards against de facto exclusivity.
- CNMC ordered Adif to drop access criteria it deems unnecessary or disproportionate, including external audit reports and certain infrastructure confirmations.
- Adif estimates capacity for 32 additional services on the Galician route—16 in each direction—which would double today’s frequencies.
- The liberalization process is slated to run through late 2027, with operations expected to start as early as 2028/2029 under 10‑year access agreements.
- Near‑term entry is constrained by the need for variable‑gauge trains and an Ourense–Taboadela bottleneck, with Talgo the main supplier facing production limits.