An investigation has been launched into a proposed high-speed train test centre near Malaga over concerns about its eligibility for EU funding.
The European Commission (EC) has launched an in-depth investigation to assess whether or not plans for a 55-kilometre high-speed rail test track near Malaga in Spain are compatible with EU state aid rules.
In 2013, proposals were produced for the Centro de Ensayos de Alta TecnologÃa Ferroviaria (CEATF) facility. The centre was approved by the Spanish government which planned to apply for funding from the EU Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the majority of €358.6 million price tag.
The test line in Antequera will include tunnels and a viaduct to simulate the structures found throughout Spain’s high-speed rail network.
“At this stage, the Commission has doubts that the project pursues a genuine objective of common interest,” the EC said in a statement.
The EC said a preliminary investigation revealed that public opposition to the test track greatly outweighed demand from the industry. It also had concerns that funding the CEATF would give an unfairly disadvantage other test facilities that operate without similar support.
Announcing the start of the investigation, the EC said it had not received a sufficient response from Spanish authorities to suggest that the facility would be made fully available to all EU users.
There were also concerns that a failure to find a private sector partner to operate the centre suggests that public sector funding may not be enough to attract additional investors.
