Jaén has been unable to launch its city tram for fifteen years, despite spending 120 million euros on its construction. In 2011, just before the municipal elections, the city underwent a transformation: new tracks, stops, and equipment. At that time, the Andalusian authorities made the tram the centerpiece of their election campaign, and trams even began trial runs. But after the Partido Popular won the election, the project was put on hold. Since then, the tram has become a symbol of political disputes and bureaucratic delays.
Jaén’s mayor Julio Millán recently claimed that an ‘invisible hand’ is behind the ongoing tram delay. His statement followed the Andalusian government’s decision to cancel an operating contract that had been offered to Alsa, the city bus operator. According to the mayor, the regional authorities did not explain why they rejected Alsa’s bid, even though it was 22% cheaper than competitors. Now, Avanza is considered the frontrunner, while Alsa plans to challenge the decision in court.
Political maneuvering
City officials fear that new legal disputes could once again delay the tram’s launch indefinitely. In 2011, service was formally suspended by a court decision following a complaint from the previous bus operator over unfair competition. Over the years, political forces in Jaén and Andalusia rarely aligned: the Socialists returned to power in the city only in 2019, but by then the People’s Party already dominated the region. In 2023, despite the Socialists winning the election, the mayorship went to a coalition between the PP and the local party Jaén Merece Más.
Once the political situation finally stabilized and the Socialists reclaimed the mayor’s office following a no-confidence vote in January 2025, there were hopes the tram would finally begin operating. However, the regional authorities hesitated to make a decision, and the infrastructure continued to deteriorate. Jaén Merece Más leader Juan Manuel Camacho believes the tram has become a symbol of neglect for the city’s interests and a lack of public consensus on the project.
A long standstill
The tram line in Jaén stretches nearly 5 kilometers, linking the city’s north and south through 10 stops. Years of inactivity have severely damaged the infrastructure: tracks and carriages have been vandalized, and the route itself has become an informal free parking lot. The Andalusian authorities recently allocated 10 million euros to restore signaling and repair rolling stock, but the main question — who will operate the tram — remains unanswered.
The mayor fears that canceling the contract with Alsa could lead to additional costs for the municipality, which is already saddled with debt. The city has just approved its 2026 budget—the first in eight years. Under the new agreement between the city and the region, Andalucía will cover 75% of the tram budget deficit, while Jaén will be responsible for the remaining 25%. City officials now plan to participate in legal proceedings to appeal the decision to terminate the contract.
Financial Losses
According to the mayor’s estimate, the regional authorities’ decision could cost the city 2.8 million euros—that’s how much more favorable Alsa’s offer was compared to other bidders. Total spending on the project has already exceeded the original 120 million: 8.5 million was spent just on infrastructure restoration, and another 37 million was budgeted for maintenance and operation, some of it coming from Next Generation European funds.
As Jaén awaits new elections in Andalucía, tram cars continue to run only in test mode. Locals show little enthusiasm for the project: after years of delays, the tram tracks have turned into a large free parking lot, and the prospect of losing it annoys many residents. Thus, a tram once envisioned as a symbol of progress has become for Jaén a reminder of prolonged disputes and missed opportunities.
