The Government approves the SFM railway network track maintenance contract, with more than double the investment of the previous contract

The tender budget for the new contract is €11.96 million for a three-year period, representing a 127% increase

Improving track maintenance is part of the railway safety measures promoted by the Government of the Balearic Islands and SFM

The Government Council has authorised Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM) to initiate the expenditure procedure for the tendering of the contract for the maintenance and upkeep of the infrastructure and track superstructure of the SFM railway network, with a budget of €11.96 million, including VAT. The contract will initially run for three years, with the possibility of two additional one-year extensions (3+1+1).

The new contract, resulting from the tendering process now under way, will represent a 127% increase in investment compared with the current contract. While the annual tender budget under the previous contract was €1.76 million, this will rise to €3.99 million under the new contract. This increase in resources reflects the Government of the Balearic Islands’ commitment to continuing to strengthen an essential public service and adapting it to the current needs of the railway network.

The project will ensure the optimal maintenance of all track superstructure elements (rails, sleepers, ballast, points and crossings, etc.) to the required levels of safety and reliability, as well as the infrastructure supporting the track (walls, bridges, fences, drainage ditches, service roads, etc.), ensuring that they properly fulfil the functions for which they are intended.

This initiative forms part of the railway safety improvement strategy promoted by the Government of the Balearic Islands and SFM in recent years. The strategy includes the progressive implementation of the ERTMS (European Rail Traffic Management System)—the European reference technology for railway traffic safety—with an investment of more than €51 million, as well as the new contract for the comprehensive maintenance of the railway fleet, with an investment of €26 million, 40% higher than that of the previous train maintenance contract.

In addition, the plan includes the comprehensive refurbishment of the Son Rutlan workshops, with more than €20 million allocated to modernising the facilities and adapting them to the increase in passenger numbers and service frequencies, as well as the creation of the Railway Safety Commission, which has incorporated new specialised technical profiles to strengthen prevention and the response to potential incidents.

With this increase in investment in SFM’s new track maintenance contract, the Government of the Balearic Islands is reinforcing safety as a central pillar of the railway system and consolidating its commitment to a more reliable and efficient public transport service.