Gran Canaria Pushes for Airport Train Station
Antonio Morales, the President of the Gran Canaria Island Council, has formally requested that the Spanish airport authority, AENA, include and fully fund a future intermodal station at Gran Canaria Airport in its plans. This station is a crucial component for the island’s upcoming commuter train network.
A Key Piece of the Island’s Transport Puzzle
This request is part of the council’s official considerations submitted for the Airport Regulation Document (DORA) III. This document outlines plans from 2027 to 2031, which will see a massive investment of 1.5 billion euros in the Canary Islands’ airports, as highlighted by Spain’s Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, during an informative briefing this Thursday.
The council states that the intermodal station at Gran Canaria Airport will be the “cornerstone of the commuter train project,” designed to connect the island’s capital with the popular south. President Morales argues that, “given its airport character, its full integration into the airport grounds, and its direct contribution to sustainability, accessibility, and efficiency goals,” the funding for the station should fall to AENA under the DORA III framework.
A Collaborative and Advanced Project
The island government emphasizes that it is precisely the collaboration between the Council and AENA that has made it possible to solidify plans for the intermodal rail station, aligning with the criteria set by port authorities. In a letter to the General Director of Airports, Elena Mayoral, Morales explained that the council “has defined the construction of a high-performance commuter train between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Maspalomas as a strategic action.” This route will include a rail connection to Gran Canaria Airport, located roughly at the midway point.
Morales stressed that “the project is absolutely complete in its route design and technical and financial feasibility studies.” He also confirmed that the council has a budget of 16.6 million euros to expropriate the necessary land, a procedure that is already underway. Furthermore, he noted a signed agreement exists between the Ministry of Transport, the Canary Islands Government, and the Island Council to treat this railway project as a budgetary priority.
A Transformative Vision for Mobility
The council’s document highlights the essential need to link Gran Canaria Airport with the rest of the island through transformative mobility projects, with the train being the prime example. This development promises to revolutionize how residents and tourists travel across Gran Canaria, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to road transport.
