Stakeholder management: El AVE en Castellbisbal (Barcelona)

The project of a high-speed train linking Madrid, Lleida, Barcelona and the French border came into being in 2000. The impact of building the infrastructure for this complex project was felt by several towns in many ways and also affected different interests (economic, social, citizen, regional, local, etc). The combined mobilisation of some towns at the outset managed to reduce certain negative impacts and highlighted problems and interests concerning the responsibilities of the different authorities involved. The route of the high-speed train through Castellbisbal directly affects a housing estate whose inhabitants refuse to accept the impact of the construction work. The blasting used to build the different tunnels brought part of the roof of one house down, injuring one person. The ensuing public alarm caused a crisis involving many parties and interests in which the media also played an important role. The town authorities are overwhelmed by a problem, which they are not directly responsible for, whose considerable dimensions have caused a major mobilisation of the public, forcing the authorities to dedicate all its efforts to defending local interests and finding a solution that satisfies all parties. This is a bilingual multimedia case in Spanish and English. This case has been featured on the ECCH website.