Pau, March 23, 2026. In one of the most notable surprises of the 2026 French municipal elections, the socialist Jérôme Marbot has won the mayoralty of Pau, unseating the historic François Bayrou, former prime minister and a key figure of the Macronist center-right. The victory, by a narrow margin of just 344 votes (42.45% compared to Bayrou’s 41.14%), is not just a local change in the Béarn capital. For Aragón, it represents a decisive boost to the most emblematic project of cross-border cooperation: the complete reopening of the Pau-Canfranc-Zaragoza railway line.
The Committee for the Reopening of the Line (Crefco), a historic supporter of the corridor, has quickly described the outcome as «very positive.» Marbot, a lawyer specializing in public law and the environment, led a unified leftist and ecological list under the banner of Nouvelle Ère. His triumph, supported by socialists, communists, ecologists, and other progressive forces, indicates a clear shift towards more ambitious policies in sustainable mobility and international cooperation.
Canfranc: A Century-Old Dream Awaiting Its Moment
The international station of Canfranc, inaugurated in 1928 as a symbol of European modernity, has been a ghost of history for decades. The Pau-Canfranc line, built to UIC standard gauge and featuring a single track, was interrupted in 1970 due to a derailment followed by an avalanche that severely damaged the French segment between Bedous and the Somport tunnel. Since then, progress has been made on the Spanish side: in June 2025, Adif restored the Zaragoza-Huesca-Canfranc service, and the Government of Aragón has rehabilitated the iconic station.
In France, the Pau-Bedous segment has been operating with regional trains since 2016. The key link is missing: the 25 kilometers between Bedous and Canfranc, which include the Somport tunnel. The French government has estimated the start of construction for 2026 and a possible reopening by 2028, coinciding with the centenary. The total investment is around 450 million euros, with significant European co-financing expected from 2028 to 2034. The European Commission has already expressed its explicit support to «alleviate road traffic in fragile areas» of the Pyrenees, and a recent EU military plan includes the corridor as a strategic redundancy element against possible disruptions at the Hendaye and Irún or Portbou-Cerbère crossings.
Why is Marbot’s Victory a «Boost»?
François Bayrou, mayor of Pau since 2014, has always privately supported the project, but he never made it a public priority or a political banner. His defeat, precisely in a stronghold he maintained even while serving as minister, opens a window of opportunity. Marbot and his leftist-green coalition have made ecological transition and sustainable mobility one of their central focuses. In a context where the Greens and the French left are strongly pushing for the decarbonization of transportation, the reopening of Canfranc fits perfectly: train versus truck, proximity connectivity versus large high-speed infrastructure.
Crefco itself, which brings together associations from Aragón, Navarre, and New Aquitaine, sees in the new mayor a interlocutor more aligned with their demands. Sources from the committee highlight that the left in Pau has traditionally shown greater sensitivity toward low-impact environmental cross-border projects with high territorial value.
Direct Impact in Aragón and on Bilateral Relations
For the Aragón community, the reopening is not just about a train: it is economic, tourism, and strategic development. Jaca, Sabiñánigo, and all of the Huesca Pyrenees would gain direct connectivity with Pau and Bordeaux, enhancing mountain tourism and commercial exchange. Brussels views the corridor as part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), with potential for both goods and passengers. Additionally, it responds to the dual European goals of decarbonization and territorial cohesion.
On the bilateral front, the result strengthens cooperation between Aragón and New Aquitaine, two regions that already share a common railway roadmap. The Government of Aragón (PSOE) and the French Executive (with Macron still in the Élysée, albeit weakened) will now have a natural ally in Pau to expedite pending procedures. The final decision on funding and the timetable is anticipated for late 2026: the political change in Pau comes at an opportune time.
Technical challenges remain (the steep gradients of the Aspe valley require traction reinforcement) as do budgetary ones, but the political momentum is now more favorable than ever. Canfranc, after nearly a century of dormancy, could see international trains running again before the end of the decade.
At a time when Europe seeks to strengthen its internal connections and reduce its dependency on major highways, a small change in the Pau City Council could become a significant leap for Aragón and for the railway friendship between France and Spain. The blue train that united the two countries in 1928 is closer than ever to once again crossing the Pyrenees.
