Transport Minister and former mayor of Valladolid, Óscar Puente (PSOE), has proposed naming the new AVE station in the actress and singer’s hometown after Concha Velasco. The artist, who passed away last December at the age of 84, became a cultural icon in Valladolid and throughout Spain, as evidenced by the tributes paid to her after her death. Puente has linked this proposal to the policy of naming major infrastructures after illustrious women, such as Atocha-Almudena Grandes and Chamartín-Clara Campoamor. The high-speed train arrived in Valladolid in 2007, and the current AVE station, named Campo Grande and designed by French engineer Enrique Grasset, is undergoing a comprehensive renovation project.
However, executing this project has proven difficult due to ongoing disputes between the City Council, led by PP and Vox, and the Ministry of Transport. The Council insists on a tunneling project that the Ministry deems infeasible due to cost and complexity. Puente supports an integration plan that is already in progress, including the renovation of the station. The bidding for the construction is expected to take place by the end of 2024. The City Council, led by Jesús Julio Carnero (PP), along with Vox, advocates for a tunneling project that would cover over seven kilometers of railway tracks running through the city.
On the other hand, the central government, as well as the Minister himself during his eight years as mayor, support a railway integration plan with several underground passages that are open and integrated into the city. This contrasts with the previous model of tunnels, many of which were dark and caused division among neighborhoods. Despite efforts, there is currently no agreement between the local and national administrations. The new AVE station in Valladolid aims to modernize a key communication axis between the center of the Peninsula and the northern regions both to the east and west. The infrastructure plans to connect both sides of the city in a transparent and more accessible space.
Puente has expressed his intention to name the renovated station after Concha Velasco during an interview on Catalunya Radio. He emphasized the cultural and artistic significance of Velasco, who is buried in the Panteón de los Ilustres in the Valladolid cemetery. Velasco, during Puente’s tenure as mayor, was awarded the Gold Medal of Valladolid in 2018 and described it as the most important distinction of her extensive and decorated career. Velasco has received a Goya Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Medal of Merit in Fine Arts, the National Theater Award, and the Honor Spike at the Valladolid Seminci festival.
In conclusion, the naming of the new AVE station after Concha Velasco is part of a larger effort to honor influential women in Spain. However, the project faces challenges due to disagreements between the local and national authorities regarding the station’s renovation and integration. Despite these obstacles, Puente remains committed to his proposal and sees it as a fitting tribute to a cultural icon like Velasco. The new AVE station in Valladolid represents a significant modernization of the city’s transportation infrastructure, aiming to improve connectivity between different regions and enhance accessibility for residents and visitors alike.
