SFM’s lecture series at the Términus explores the history of the former Palma–Santanyí railway line

Miquel Rigo, from the Association of Railway Friends, trustee of Ferrocaib and SFM train driver, will deliver the lecture next Tuesday, the 17th

Serveis Ferroviaris de Mallorca (SFM) continues its cycle of conferences, organised since last December at the Términus building with the aim of bringing different aspects of the island’s railway history and heritage closer to the public. The next session, which will take place on Tuesday 17 March at 6:00 p.m., will be dedicated to the former railway line that connected Palma with the municipality of Santanyí.

The lecture, entitled “The Palma–Santanyí Railway: Chronicle of a Reunion”, will be delivered by Miquel Rigo, secretary of the Association of Railway Friends, trustee of the Ferrocaib Foundation, and active SFM train driver. Rigo is also a renowned expert on Mallorca’s railway history and actively participates in initiatives linked to its preservation and dissemination.

Rigo will review the history of this railway line from its origins to its closure. The Palma–Santanyí railway was inaugurated in 1917, during the expansion period of Mallorca’s railway network. The route included seven stations and several halts along nearly 62 kilometres and, for decades, contributed to the economic and social development of the towns it connected.

The economic crisis that affected Ferrocarriles de Mallorca during the 1950s accelerated the decline of the service and ultimately led to the closure of the line in 1964. The facilities were later dismantled and the land was put up for auction.

During the lecture, there will also be a review of the route of the line, its stations, and some of the architectural elements associated with the railway. In addition, the causes that led to its closure and future prospects related to the recovery and enhancement of this heritage will be discussed. The session will be complemented by a selection of historical images that will help contextualise this chapter of Mallorca’s railway past.

This cycle of conferences will continue throughout 2026 with new sessions dedicated to different episodes in Mallorca’s railway history. On 15 April, the lecture “Mallorca on Rails: Railways and Economic Growth (1875–1975)” will be delivered by Ramón Molina, PhD in History. Later, on 12 May, the presentation “Palma’s Horse-Drawn Tramway (1891–1916)” will be given by Antoni Sanchis, researcher in railway history.