Basque Y is the high-speed rail network being built between the three cities of the Basque Country autonomous community, in Spain; Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Donostia-San Sebastián. It will transport cargo and passengers. It will connect Madrid via Valladolid and connect France via Irun. Meanwhile the French high-speed rail line (on which the TGV trains achieve their top speeds) is not planned to reach Hendaye until 2020. The network will also include a connection to the Navarrese Corridor, the high speed line projected between Zaragoza and the capital of Navarre, Pamplona. The provision was to launch the railway on 2013 but the cuts on the budget have delayed considerably the project. There has been huge criticism coming from several social groups namely: political parties, unions, ecologists and local community associations. In the late 2000s the armed group ETA –no longer active since 2011- stepped into the conflict bombing offices or machinery from some companies responsible of the works and killing the owner of one of them. Hence, activists suffered extra repression coming from state forces. |
| Name of conflict: | High Speed Train Basque Country, Spain |
| Country: | Spain |
| State or province: | Basque Country autonomous community |
| Location of conflict: | Several. Main ones: Astigarraga, Bilbao, Vitoria, Irún, San Sebastián, Ezkio-Itsaso |
| Accuracy of location | LOW (Country level) |
| Type of conflict. 1st level: | Infrastructure and Built Environment |
| Type of conflict. 2nd level: | Transport infrastructure networks (roads, railways, hydroways, canals and pipelines) |
| Specific commodities: | Tourism services Transportation Services |
| Project details | From the 157 km 105,9 km (62%) will be in 80 tunnels and 10% in 71 bridges. |
| Project area: | 2,500 km |
| Level of Investment: | 8,100,000,000 |
| Type of population | Semi-urban |
| Start of the conflict: | 15/03/2001 |
| Company names or state enterprises: | Ferrovial from Spain Acciona from Spain Amenabar from Spain Uria y Altuna from Spain Fonorte from Spain |
| Relevant government actors: | Basque Country autonomous community Government, Ministry of Development, Local councils and province authorities |
| International and Finance Institutions | European Union (EU) European Investment Bank (EIB) |
| Environmental justice organizations (and other supporters) and their websites, if available: | AHT Gelditu Elkarana. Platform uniting a wide range of agents opposing the project., Asamblea contra el TAV |
| Intensity | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| Reaction stage | PREVENTIVE resistance (precautionary phase) |
| Groups mobilizing: | Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Social movements Trade unions Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of mobilization: | Blockades Creation of alternative reports/knowledge Development of a network/collective action Development of alternative proposals Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Media based activism/alternative media Public campaigns Sabotage Street protest/marches |
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation Potential: Air pollution, Biodiversity loss (wildlife, agro-diversity), Food insecurity (crop damage), Global warming, Noise pollution, Soil erosion, Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality, Groundwater pollution or depletion, Large-scale disturbance of hydro and geological systems, Reduced ecological / hydrological connectivity |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Accidents, Deaths Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Socio-economical Impacts | Visible: Militarization and increased police presence Potential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Loss of livelihood, Land dispossession, Loss of landscape/sense of place |
| Project Status | Under construction |
| Conflict outcome / response: | Criminalization of activists Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Court decision (failure for environmental justice) Repression |
| Development of alternatives: | Most of the alternatives proposed advocated for a more social train and rejected the model of high speed train. Given that, the were advocating for a change in the model of development. |
| Do you consider this an environmental justice success? Was environmental justice served?: | Not Sure |
| Briefly explain: | With a strong tradition of social mobilization in the Basque Country, opponents achieved a great degree of support, but this was not enough to stop the project. Besides, the economic crisis forced a delay in the works (some stretches accumulate more than 2 years of delay). |
| References to published books, academic articles, movies or published documentaries |
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| Links to general newspaper articles, blogs or other websites |
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| Related media links to videos, campaigns, social network |
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| Contributor: | Alfred Burballa Noria |
| Last update | 24/06/2014 |