• New solutions will be analyzed to connect both cities by high speed, in order to obtain a socioeconomic profitability that makes the action viable.
• The definition and feasibility of a new railway route will be studied, considering the stops closest to the urban center of the intermediate municipalities and the possibility of phased implementation.

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has listed for 786,500 euros (VAT included) a service contract to draft the feasibility study to improve the railway connection between Bilbao and Santander, as published today in the Public Sector Contracting Platform.

The contract now mentioned aims to study new solutions for the high-speed rail connection between Bilbao and Santander taking into account the changes in the starting conditions indicated in the “Informative Study of the Cantabrian-Mediterranean Corridor. Stretch: Bilbao – Santander”, in order to obtain a socio-economic profitability that makes the action viable.

The objective is to define a corridor between both cities that allows them to connect with each other and with the municipalities that can be benefited by the new route, seeking to optimize the location of stations to maximize the population served. To do this, the works are structured in two phases:

• In the first phase, a complete study of mobility in the field of study will be developed to characterize the flows of travelers with origin or destination in both cities, as well as in the municipalities of Castro Urdiales and Laredo, and their environments of influence. This will determine the needs of the population, the possibilities for enhancing mobility, and the demand for new transport services. The flows of potentially capable goods will also be studied.

• In the second phase, the new route between both cities will be characterized. The proposed alternatives will be analyzed and compared, and a socioeconomic profitability study must be carried out, taking into account the demand and the expected travel times, in order to determine the advisability of continuing with the development of the action.

The action responds to the objectives of the Sustainable, Secure and Connected Mobility Strategy 2030, aimed at improving social cohesion, economic growth and solving real mobility problems. The railway mode of transport aligns with these objectives and contributes to sustainable mobility from a social, economic and environmental point of view.

This tender strengthens the commitment of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility with the Basque Country and Cantabria, and aligns with other ongoing actions, such as the Southern Railway Variant of Bilbao.

Informative Study of the Bilbao–Santander section

To put into context, on November 7, 2025, the process of public information and hearing to the administrations of the “Informative Study of the Cantabrian-Mediterranean Corridor” was initiated. Stretch: Bilbao – Santander”. The initial period of 30 days for the processing of public information has been extended by another 15 working days (the maximum possible according to current legislation), this extension of time having been published in Spanish. BOE of 11 December.

This informative study submitted to public information includes an analysis of socioeconomic profitability whose results indicate that the solutions studied offer lower socioeconomic profitability than the minimum recommended.

For that, and for Being able to obtain a socioeconomic profitability that makes the action viable, the informative study concludes that it is necessary to study new alternatives, for which it is necessary to draft this new study now mentioned that introduces some changes in the starting conditions:

• Based on demand data, a phased commissioning will be evaluated.

• The suitability of the design of a new infrastructure for mixed or exclusive passenger traffic will be assessed.

• The possible optimization in the location of the new stations will be analyzed, seeking a greater capture of demand.

• Possible connections between the new infrastructure and the existing network will be taken into account.

Given that the information study currently in public information does not propose the implementation of any of the solutions submitted to public information for not fulfilling the objectives of the project, if the public information process currently in progress does not deduce the contrary, it will conclude with the approval of the information study without establishing any reserve band and, therefore, the suspension of licenses implied by the Railway Sector Law and will automatically decline, so for territorial or urban planning purposes, the situation will return to the situation prior to the information study being submitted to public information.