Analysis of social cohesion

This activity, that began after the completion of the Inventory of Low-Traffic Lines from the previous work package (WP02), consists of analysing how cohesive the social fabric is in the territories affected by these rail lines. This allows us to bring together in a single analysis a wide range of territorial characteristics along the routes, such as entrepreneurial capacity, the level of local associational life, demographic composition, economic attractiveness, and others.

The preparation of this analysis relies on first-hand work with local stakeholders, as one of the objectives of this work package is to refine the identification of territories and lines with potential for tourism reactivation.

METHODOLOGY

The first phase of this activity consisted of collecting information through documentary sources (including GIS data and statistical sources). At the same time, the project team jointly developed different socio‑ecological indicators to capture the level of social cohesion along each line, creating a dataset associated with each one.

En tercer lugar, se realizó un primer contacto con los Grupos de Acción Local con los que intercambiamos un primer formato de encuesta diseñado previamente. Lo cierto es que esta parte del trabajo nos ayudó mucho a confeccionar el trabajo de campo que tuvo lugar inmediatamente después, y sobre el que se ha condensado mucha información y vínculos con los interlocutores locales.

Por último, esta actividad ha requerido una síntesis de la información recogida, que se ha producido teniendo en cuenta todos los procesos incorporados para finalmente construir una base de datos sobre el potencial socioecológico de los territorios que se encuentran atravesados por las líneas.

FOURTH PHASE: FIELDWORKS

We would like to place particular emphasis on this part of the project: between June and October 2025, we held several meetings with the Local Action Groups operating in areas crossed by a Low‑Traffic Line.

Local Action Groups (LAGs) are collaborative entities that manage and implement participatory rural development strategies aimed at boosting the economy, social cohesion and sustainability of their territories. They have been essential in helping us understand how the railway impacts each territory and how these groups envision their future in line with the objectives proposed by the project.

The work we shared consisted of jointly discussing the past, present and future of both the rail lines and the villages, districts and territories they connect. Meetings were held in different locations, allowing us to exchange information and reflections on our respective work and on the capacity to influence the future of the lines.

LOCAL ACTION GROUPS INVOLVED

ADC Nordeste- Integral, Sociedad para el desarrollo Rural
ADRI Vega del segura
ADEL Sierra Norte de Guadalajara
ADRI Palomares
ADRI Calatayud-Aranda
ADRI de la Ribera del Duero Burgalesa
Asociación BiciZamora
Asociación para el Desarrollo de la Comarca del Arlanza
CEDER CAMPIÑA SUR
Club Acción Ciclista Zamora
Coordinadora para el Desarrollo Integral del Nordeste de Segovia
Desarrollo rural de Campoder
FEDESIBA
FEDIVALCA
GAL Segovia Sur
GAL TENTUDIA
GAL Sierra Norte de Madrid
GAL Zona Centro de Valladolid
GDR GADLCANT
GDR LA SERENA
GDR Navia-Porcía
GDR Oscos-Eo
GDR Terras de Miranda
GDR Valle del Este-Entrecabos
Sierra Norte de Málaga

The following images show different meetings held with the local communities