SFM opens its new headquarters in the Terminus hostel and restores a Civil War shelter
Prohens has celebrated the restoration of the former hostel, a modernist building constructed in 1913 and declared a site of cultural interest.
PalmMallorca Railway Services (SFM) inaugurated its new headquarters this Monday in the former Terminus hostel building, located in Palma's Plaça d'Espanya, next to the Intermodal Station. The event was attended by the President of the Government of Mallorca, Marga Prohens; the Minister of Housing, Mobility and Territory, José Luis Mateo; the Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez; and the Managing Director of SFM, José Ramón Orta. The authorities unveiled a commemorative plaque, toured the facilities, and, at the end of the official presentation, symbolically opened the new headquarters cafeteria. Prohens celebrated the restoration of the former hostel, a modernist building constructed in 1913 and declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC), a process that began in 2012 when the Administration initiated the legal procedure to reclaim its public ownership. "We have completed a long project to return this building to public use, a project with which we have recovered heritage and living history of our islands," he applauded.
The renovation, which began a year and a half ago and was budgeted at 3.7 million euros, has been carried out respecting the building's architectural identity while adapting it to current uses. Thus, the Terminus will now house several SFM offices, a control center, a cafeteria open to the public, and an auditorium for social and cultural events. Furthermore, following a modification to the initial project, the works have allowed for the restoration of the air-raid shelter that protected Palma's citizens from Republican bombings during the Spanish Civil War. "It wasn't included in the previous project, and the shelter was in danger of disappearing. Now, the public can visit it to learn about our history. This is also part of historical memory," the president stated. "Transformation of the surroundings"
Prohens framed the Terminus renovation within the "profound transformation" of the area surrounding Plaça d'Espanya, a zone that "for too many years has suffered degradation, neglect, and a lack of investment." "This building was a prime example of this neglect, and its rehabilitation contributes to the commitment to improving security in the area," noted the president, who also mentioned the recent opening of a Palma Local Police station in a nearby building.
These actions, he emphasized, extend to the Intermodal Station, "where there had been practically no investment in 20 years." The renovation, which began last February and is financed with 3.6 million euros—of which one million has already been spent—will improve accessibility, renovate the escalators, add new public restrooms, and create a customer service office, among other improvements. Martínez echoed this sentiment, celebrating that both the regional and local governments "are aligned on the city project and are committed to each of the city's neighborhoods." He considered the Terminus renovation "to represent many things," such as bringing "an essential public service" closer to the public and demonstrating a commitment to restoring heritage elements.
"In this area, the Local Police have a project to install smart cameras and perimeter control systems. This will be a pilot project that can be extended to other parts of the city," he said, citing it as an example of the commitment to security.
He also celebrated the restoration of the air-raid shelter, adding that "it's not the only thing being restored," as the same will be done in the Plaza Mayor. "We are working together to highlight the history, origins, and essence of Palma," the mayor concluded.
Railway projects
The President of the Government took advantage of her speech to highlight the progress made in the last two years in improving Mallorca's rail network, "which had been neglected for decades." Specifically, she referred to the train project in Llucmajor, "which is progressing according to schedule"; the extension to Alcúdia, for which objections are being reviewed to achieve the "greatest possible consensus" and minimize the impact of its route near Sa Pobla; and the arrival of the metro to the Son Espases University Hospital. "And if we have the funding, we will not rule out completing the development of the entire rail network, such as the Artà and Capdepera train (better known as the Levante train) and any new lines we may study," she affirmed.