Renfe sold almost 70,000 tickets for the new high-speed services to Asturias. The majority of approximately 60,000 people are booked to travel from tomorrow through January 15. Promotional tickets can be purchased for travel until February 15. It will be available for sale at stations, in the Renfe purchasing application, by calling 912 320 320, in vending machines, on the renfe.com website and in travel agencies. Meanwhile, businessmen, chambers of commerce and unions also agree on this issue. Variant is not the goal, but the beginning of a “big opportunity”. However, they demand the development of an infrastructure like Zalia, which is still pending.
Maria CalvoPresident of the Federation of Asturian Businessmen (FADE), Variant brands “one before and one after “For the region and its companies,” it responds to “a historic debt with Asturias” and offers “exceptional opportunities in tourism and logistics.” The official emphasized that if this is promoted correctly, it will help de-seasonalize tourism and offers “extraordinary opportunities in tourism and logistics if we work together.” This will be a boost not just for cities but also for rural centers of the wings.” Businessmen are “convinced” that this could “revolutionize freight transport and solve a historic communications problem that our industry will benefit from.” But Variable This is “one piece of the puzzle and now we must work with ambition: develop Zalia, update roads, connect our ports… This opening must be the beginning of a transformative strategy for the region.” He concluded.
Carlos PaniceresThe President of the Oviedo Chamber of Commerce stated that Variant will be promoted. Santiago’s “Exponential growth of the Camino origin region”An element that could be “essential to Oviedo and the Southwest.” The number of pilgrims on the Camino from Ourense has increased by 18% since the arrival of the high speed. It will increase the number of digital nomads and workers, which could lead to “an increase in population and activity.” He also foresees a leap forward in the congress and fair arena: “Oviedo is a great opportunity, as it needs to step in and compete.” This will be “an incentive for the city’s classic sectors of tourism, hospitality and commerce”.
Felix BaragañoThe president of the Gijón Chamber of Commerce noted that the opening of the Bypass will be “a historic event that opens the future of important connections for the development of Asturias.” He wanted to “complete the León-Campomanes and Lena-Gijón sections with a triple thread.” The plan envisages the revival of the tourism and congress, congress and events sector, “for which Gijón is a privileged region”. “This infrastructure will achieve maximum efficiency when completed with the development of the metro train and intermodal station,” he added. As for the transport of goods, this will mean “a boost to the hinterland of the port of Gijón”, increasing traffic and positioning El Musel as “one of the main suppliers of the great metropolis of Madrid”.
Daniel GonzálezPresident of the Avilés Chamber of Commerce emphasized that high speed is important “an important moment” Predicting that the region will become a “preferred destination” rather than a “secondary destination”, the Chamber is working to develop “the image of Avilés as an excellent destination for tourism and industry”. “We can organize conferences for up to 500 people,” he said. He noted that the chamber will continue to request “the number of frequencies corresponding to us according to the population and departure and arrival times that allow flights to and from Madrid during the day.”
Javier Fernández LaneroThe UGT general secretary also pointed out that Variant points to “a before and after, the importance of which we may not be aware of”. It will “directly” affect passenger transport and “very important” freight transport. “20 percent of goods transported by rail are in Asturias and so this will be a real boost for very important companies in their connections with the Plateau and the Levant,” he said. He believes this will help deseasonalize tourism. “And of course it needs to be a precursor to the rest of the infrastructure that will give meaning to the Atlantic Corridor,” he emphasized.
José Manuel ZapicoThe CC OO general secretary is clear that Variant will be “a milestone in sociological terms”. This would mean “the end of the isolation and discrimination we have suffered for decades” and “It is very important for industrial development and will add value to a sector such as tourism.”. But he also explained that we can’t talk about the future “if traveling locally in Asturias is an obstacle course.” He hopes that the regional rail network will be strengthened, especially Feve, “as it has failed due to ongoing events”. “The AVE and a strong suburban network should be an important element of regional cohesion,” he concluded.