- The Executive has approved the Royal Decree of Direct Concession that regulates the funds to finance the metropolitan collective public transport in 2026.
- In addition to the metropolitan transport consortium of Madrid, the beneficiaries are also those of Barcelona and Valencia, as well as the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.
The Council of Ministers, on the proposal of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, has today approved a Royal Decree that provides for the direct granting of a subsidy of 126.89 million euros to finance the collective public transport of Madrid during the financial year 2026.
The Royal Decree approved by the Executive includes the direct granting of four grants for a total amount of 363.7 million euros (VAT not included) aimed at financing the public metropolitan public transport of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and the Canary Islands during the financial year 2026. The amount is the same as that of the 2025 exercise.
In particular, this aid is intended to finance the regular public transport of metropolitan passengers by the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium, the Barcelona Metropolitan Transport Authority (Autoritat del Transport Metropolità), the València Metropolitan Transport Authority (Autoritat del Transport Metropolità de València) and the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands.
The aid is broken down as follows:
- Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid: €126.89 million.
- Barcelona Metropolitan Transport Authority: 149.30 million euros.
- Metropolitan Transport Authority of Valencia: 40 million euros.
- Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands: 47.5 million euros.
Characteristics of metropolitan collective public transport
The regular transport of passengers in these metropolitan or island areas is characterized by a significant volume of affected population, great intensity of travel, the participation of several administrations in its management and the impact of its operation on the general economic activity and of various sectors.
This public transport also has an essential public service character by having a notable impact on the ordinary development, both of the daily activities of the citizenry in various orders of their lives, and of multiple economic, professional or social activities. Meeting the mobility needs of a significant population volume justifies this funding, which contributes to the regular operation of this essential public service.
Submission of applications
The beneficiaries have a period of ten working days, starting from the entry into force of this Royal Decree, to submit their applications, as well as the rest of the required documentation. The maximum period for notifying the concession resolution will be forty-five working days from the entry into force of this same Royal Decree.