Renfe Operadora has to clean up its business once and for all. It won't do much good to patch up the mid-distance sector of its business, which is not profitable, if its long-distance sector continues to wrestle with a difficult issue: a third of these lines don't transport more than 250 passengers per day.
The Ministry of Public Works knows that nixing the worst routes is not a good move politically, but that solution is necessary. In addition to having the option to switch from the train to bus lines, which are often more comfortable and cheaper than rail travel.
As they say in industry slang, Renfe needs to figure out a way to start turning a profit. The Spanish government cannot do much to help, and it certainly cannot afford to maintain services that aren't being used.
