Madrid grants 115,000 euros to the historic trains of La Fresa and Felipe II

The Community of Madrid has granted a nominative subsidy of 115,000 euros to the Spanish Railways Foundation (FFEE) to promote the tourist product “Historic Trains: Strawberry Train and Philip II Train” towards the region’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The decision is detailed in Order 1596/2026, of August 6, of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport, published in the Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid (BOCM) number 199, of August 21, 2026, page 14.

The aid falls within the exclusive competence of the Community in tourism matters (article 26.1.21 of the Statute of Autonomy) and the Law 1/1999, of March 12, on Tourism Regulation, which promotes the commercialization of regional tourist products. The expenditure is charged to item 48153 of program 432A of the General Budgets of the Community of Madrid for 2026, provided for in Law 6/2025, of December 23, and in Order 152/2026, of January 26, of the Strategic Subsidy Plan of the Directorate General of Tourism and Hospitality.

A boost to cultural and heritage tourism

The subsidy responds to the Regional Tourism Strategy 2023-2026, which envisions the promotion of historic trains as a sustainable and quality cultural product. The FFEE is entrusted with the recovery, custody, and dissemination of historical railway heritage, and regularly operates both trains within the Community of Madrid, providing guided tours at the destinations and the necessary historical railway equipment.

The trains are part of the Railway Material Collection of the Railway Museum, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest through the initiation of the Order of October 7, 1996, of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The aid complies with Regulation (EU) 651/2014 for block exemptions, under the modality of aid for culture and heritage conservation.

How the money will be spent

The amount is divided among three main blocks of eligible expenses, all within the period between January 1 and November 16, 2026:

• 57,500 euros for the operation of the trains: operation services, maintenance of historical material, operations agent, and CO2 footprint calculation.
• 78,250 euros for the creation and improvement of the tourist-cultural product: theatricalization, quality audits (ISO 9001 and Service Charter), foreign language assistance, special events, and radio guides on the Philip II Train.
• 8,000 euros for communication and promotion, including the creation of graphic material for both trains.

Deadlines and conditions

The grant will be paid in a single lump sum for the total amount awarded, once the expenses incurred between January 1 and November 16, 2026, have been justified. The justification must be submitted between November 17 and 25. The beneficiary is obliged to acknowledge the participation of the Community of Madrid in all advertising, using the legend “Subsidized by the Community of Madrid”.

The FFEE must prove compliance with its tax and Social Security obligations, and the subcontracting of up to 100% of the activity is authorized. For expenses exceeding 1,500 euros, a minimum of three offers from different providers must be requested.

Control and monitoring

A Monitoring Commission will be created, composed of two representatives from the Foundation and two from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport, with monitoring and coordination powers. The beneficiary is subject to the financial control of the General Comptroller of the Community of Madrid and the auditing of the Chamber of Accounts and the Court of Auditors. Failure to comply with the conditions may lead to the revocation of the aid and the reimbursement of the amounts received.

The order, which exhausts the administrative route, was signed by delegation by the Director General of Tourism and Hospitality, Laura Martínez Cerro, and will take effect from its electronic notification to the Foundation. With this aid, the Community reinforces the connection between railway heritage and cultural tourism, consolidating historic trains as a differentiating attraction of the region compared to other destinations.

Source: Official Gazette of the Community of Madrid, no. 199, August 21, 2026, section I.C (Other Provisions), page 14 (official reference: Order 1596/2026, file 03/13.393/26).