BusIt, the Asturian passenger transport specialist, has reached a strategic agreement with Eco Rail, a subsidiary of the Magtel group controlled by Mobico. The collaboration signals a decisive move in the forthcoming phase of rail transport liberalization, aiming to expand the award of high-speed, suburban, and medium-distance rail services across Spain and potentially beyond. The alliance seeks to strengthen capacity for new tenders and to position the two groups at the forefront of the evolving European rail market, where competition is reconfiguring traditional monopolies.
Both companies have long held railway transport licenses and safety certificates, underscoring their readiness to operate at scale. The Asturian firm already runs tourist trains, manages railway terminals in major ports, operates a training school for locomotive crews, and provides a range of services within the railway sector. This operational breadth gives the partnership a solid base to participate in future bidding rounds and service launches, aligning with the broader liberalization agenda that has gathered momentum in recent years.
Over the past three years, Alsa and Eco Rail have collaborated on this project and contemplate inviting a third partner to strengthen their bid for contracts scheduled to be awarded in 2025. This plan, reportedly confirmed by Expansión and Nueva España in their coverage, reflects a disciplined approach to market entry and a shared goal of expanding high-quality rail services in Spain. The companies emphasize that their efforts are aimed at ensuring robust competition and improved service levels for passengers, in line with liberalization policies advanced by national and regional authorities.
Both organizations previously expressed interest in supplying commercial rail services following the initial version of high-speed passenger transport reforms, which paved the way for new entrants to challenge the entrenched Renfe monopoly. In parallel, the Cosmen Menéndez-Castañedo family—Mobico’s principal shareholder—has been steering a consortium of financial and industrial partners to explore rail connections between continental Europe and the United Kingdom via the Eurotunnel, with 2025 cited as a milestone for potential deployment. The Evolyn venture, led by the Cosmen family alongside Mobico, is the vehicle for this initiative, extending Mobico’s reach from the UK into continental Europe and, through Alsa, into Spain, while also signaling potential cross-border operations that leverage existing capacities and networks. Mobilizing this strategy, the group intends to participate in cross-channel rail solutions and to contribute to a more competitive, integrated European rail system across multiple corridors, including the Channel route that links the continent with the UK. This broader plan reflects a trend toward multi-national collaboration in rail services to unlock new markets and optimize resource use, with the European rail family expanding through joint ventures and shared expertise.