Spain’s National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) has denied a request from Renfe Ingeniería y Mantenimiento to extend the deadline for implementing interim measures mandating access to its La Sagra (Toledo) maintenance facility for private open-access operator Iryo.
The ruling, approved on 14 May and reported by ElEconomista.es, reiterates that the decision is immediately enforceable and allows no deferral. Renfe had sought an extension on 17 April, citing technical and organisational constraints, but the regulator maintained that the measures—imposed on 26 March—must be fully implemented.
Specifically, the measures require that Hitachi Rail be permitted to undertake in-house bogie assembly and disassembly for Iryo’s ETR1000 high-speed trainsets, with access to the necessary workshop space and equipment at La Sagra.
The dispute follows the breakdown of negotiations between the two companies over heavy maintenance (second-level maintenance) of Iryo’s fleet. Renfe warns of annual losses exceeding €60m and potential disruption to key corridors such as Madrid–Barcelona.
Iryo, for its part, states it requires only 7% of La Sagra’s capacity and that maintaining its fleet in Italy incurs an additional annual cost of €17m.
The Audiencia Nacional, which has already declined to suspend the interim measures, has yet to rule on the merits of the case.