The Government grants 363.7 million in direct aid to metropolitan transport

The Council of Ministers approved Royal Decree 826/2026, of October 14, which regulates the direct granting of subsidies intended to finance regular public passenger transport in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, for a combined amount of 363,695.52 thousand euros. The regulation is published in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) no. 256, of October 15, 2026, section I, page 137479 (reference BOE-A-2026-21449), and enters into force the day following its publication, that is, October 16, 2026.

Direct granting for public interest

The text, promoted by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, utilizes the direct granting procedure provided for in article 22.2.c) of Law 38/2003, of November 17, General Law on Subsidies, as reasons of public, social, and economic interest concur. The royal decree justifies this route on the grounds that there are no other entities providing the service in those areas and that the extension of the General State Budgets of 2023 for 2026 prevents the use of competitive bidding.

The financing is carried out charged to the budgets of the 2023 financial year extended for 2026, and the aid is included in the department’s Strategic Subsidy Plan 2025-2027. The regulation is issued under article 149.1.13. of the Spanish Constitution and was signed by King Felipe VI on October 14, 2026, countersigned by Minister Óscar Puente Santiago.

Distribution of aid by area

The beneficiaries and the amounts set forth in article 8 are as follows:

• Metropolitan Transport Authority of Barcelona (Autoritat del Transport Metropolità): 149,301.52 thousand euros.
• Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid: 126,894.00 thousand euros.
• Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands: 47,500.00 thousand euros.
• Metropolitan Transport Authority of Valencia (Autoritat del Transport Metropolità de València): 40,000.00 thousand euros.

The areas of operation encompass the Community of Madrid; the regions of L’Alt Penedès, L’Anoia, El Bages, El Baix Llobregat, El Barcelonès, El Berguedà, El Garraf, El Maresme, El Moianès, Osona, El Vallès Occidental, and El Vallès Oriental; the City Council of Valencia and the municipalities adhered to the Metropolitan Transport Area of Valencia according to Decree 81/2017, of June 23; and the entirety of the Canarian archipelago.

Deadlines, justification, and control

The grant will be formalized by resolution of the holder of the Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, with the General Directorate of Mobility Strategies as the instructing body. The established calendar is as follows:

• Applications: ten business days from the entry into force of the royal decree, through the General Electronic Registry of the General State Administration.
• Grant resolution: forty-five business days maximum; expiration without notification implies dismissal by administrative silence.
• Payment: single and advance payment in 2026, without the need to provide guarantees.
• Justification: through audited financial statements before September 30, 2027.

Total non-compliance requires full reimbursement, while partial compliance is assessed based on proportionality and is considered close to total when execution reaches or exceeds 90%. Failure to disclose the public funding received entails the reimbursement of 10% of the amount received. The grants will be published in the National Grants Database.

Impact for travelers

These contributions support the ordinary operation of land passenger transport systems in the country’s three largest metropolitan areas and in the Canary Islands, areas with a high volume of population and daily commutes. State funding helps maintain service quality and contain the tariff needs of the consortia and transport authorities, which manage the daily mobility of millions of users.

Source: Official State Gazette, no. 256, of October 15, 2026, section I, page 137479 (official reference: BOE-A-2026-21449).