The CNMC has started a public consultation to collect data on rail passenger transport services, particularly suburban and medium-distance routes, as part of a study on liberalization. The consultation, open until December 13, aims to identify challenges, barriers, and make recommendations to ensure market opening benefits passengers and taxpayers.

Following the liberalization of high-speed and long-distance services, Spain's next step is to open rail services with public service obligations, such as suburban and medium-distance routes. These services carried around 492 million passengers in 2023, mostly residents of suburban areas with below-average incomes. Liberalizing this sector is crucial for social cohesion, environmental sustainability, and economic development in metropolitan areas.

International experience shows that liberalizing rail passenger transport services leads to cost savings for bidding authorities and enhances service quality.

The CNMC advocates for effective competition in markets, as mandated by the law. It conducts studies and research on competition, issuing reports on economic sectors with proposals for liberalization, deregulation, or regulatory changes, all part of the CNMC's Action Plan.