Train debate splits Tenerife between mobility improvements and environmental concerns
Tenerife’s long-discussed railway projects, a proposed line in the south and another in the north, have reignited a heated debate across the island. While the projects remain far from becoming reality, particularly in the north, they have already divided public opinion between those who see the train as essential for easing traffic congestion and those who view it as a threat to the island’s fragile environment.
The Tenerife Cabildo is promoting both projects as part of a broader mobility plan. Supporters argue that the train could provide an efficient alternative to car use, while critics fear it would consume precious land, damage natural areas, and fail to address the island’s unique mobility challenges.
Support from business and unions
The business and labour sectors are among the strongest supporters of the project. With Tenerife suffering chronic gridlock on its roads and one of the highest ratios of cars per inhabitant in Europe, many argue that a guided transport system is essential.
Pedro Alfonso, president of Tenerife’s employers’ association CEOE, describes the trains as “adequate” and calls for expanding tram services as well. He argues that a smart mobility plan must integrate private and public systems.
Construction industry leader Óscar Izquierdo, president of Fepeco, insists the island cannot continue to absorb more cars without consequence. He supports a multimodal network that combines trains, trams, buses, taxis, and private vehicles, with park-and-ride facilities to ease congestion in major urban centres.
For Juan Antonio Jiménez, head of the metalworkers’ association Femete, the issue goes beyond infrastructure. He sees the trains as a chance to “lay the foundations for a modern transport model that reduces dependence on the private car.” However, he stresses that such projects must be developed with social consensus.
The union sector has also backed the plans. Jesús Trancho of FeSMC-UGT believes the trains would benefit workers most, particularly in heavily congested zones. He also supports extending tram line 1 to Los Rodeos airport.
Concerns and scepticism
However, not everyone is convinced. Javier Cabrera, president of the Circle of Entrepreneurs of South Tenerife (CEST), remains cautious. He describes the southern train as “a future option we have always supported,” but after 20 years of debate with no progress, he admits there is growing scepticism. For the south, he insists that immediate road upgrades, including the TF-1 motorway and secondary routes, must take priority before the railway.
Environmental opposition
Environmental groups remain firmly opposed. Jaime Coello, director of the Fundación Canaria Teleforo Bravo-Juan Coello, dismisses the railway as “nonsense,” arguing that it would consume vast amounts of land on an already densely occupied island.
Eustaquio Villalba of the environmental group ATAN adds that “no island in the world of Tenerife’s size has solved its mobility issues by building trains,” stressing that trains are designed for long distances, not short island routes. He warns that the proposed 79-kilometre southern line, with just seven stations, risks becoming a “barrier” for communities that would still rely on buses and private cars.
Both Coello and Villalba highlight the environmental cost, including the impact on protected natural areas and the scale of compulsory land expropriations required. They argue that buses, extended tram services, and dedicated bus lanes (BUS-VAO) offer more flexible, economical, and environmentally sustainable alternatives.
The wider debate
The southern train is designed to connect Santa Cruz to Adeje in just 39 minutes. But critics note that Tenerife’s dispersed settlements would require far more stops than planned, undermining efficiency. They also question whether the massive investment could ever be justified by passenger demand.
For now, the projects remain on the drawing board, but the debate has sharpened fundamental questions about the island’s future: should Tenerife invest in large-scale, fixed infrastructure projects, or pursue more adaptable, lower-impact solutions?
As discussions continue, one thing is clear: the train projects have become a symbol of a wider struggle over how to balance mobility, sustainability, and the preservation of Tenerife’s unique environment.
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