Literature and the world of railways have once again joined forces in an event that has become a classic for book lovers in the capital. On this occasion, the writer Katterin Elizabeth Aguirre Baltodano She has won first place in the 20th 'The Train and the Journey' Short Story Competition with her work entitled 'The Midnight Performance'. The text stood out for its ability to evoke the dreams and sensations that arise during a journey on the rails.
The event to celebrate this creative milestone took place last Wednesday in an unbeatable setting, the Madrid Railway MuseumThe event brought together authors and industry leaders. The award ceremony was presided over by Sonia Ferrero, the director of CercanÃas Madrid, who emphasized the importance of keeping these initiatives alive, initiatives that transform the train into more than just a means of transport, turning it into a setting for fiction.
Recognition and awards for the best authors
Winning the main prize is no small feat, as the winner will enjoy a round trip for two to any destination on the Iberian Peninsula, plus a stay with breakfast at the historic Parador of Alcalá de HenaresThis award seeks not only to reward talent, but also to promote national tourism using the railway network as the backbone of the experience.
But Aguirre Baltodano wasn't the only star of the day, as the jury had a difficult task choosing among such high-quality entries. Second place went to MarÃa Teresa Saiz for her story 'Iron Maps', followed by Victoria Raboso with 'Bosco Revisited'. Fourth place was shared equally between Patricia Roca for her work 'Communiqués' and Óscar Achútegui for 'Poppies', demonstrating that the literary level of this year It's been through the roof.
A success in terms of participation that doubles previous figures.
One of the most surprising aspects of this twentieth edition has been the volume of submissions received. No less than 1.034 micro-stories have been submittedThis figure is almost double the number recorded the previous year. This data confirms that the short story contest It is more than consolidated in the cultural scene, attracting writers not only from Madrid, but from places as diverse as Extremadura, Galicia, Catalonia or the Valencian Community.
Since this competition began in 2007, approximately 29.000 short storiescreating a priceless railway literary archive. The challenge remains clear: to condense all the magic of a journey into a text of no more than 99 words, a challenge that forces participants to make the most of their ingenuity and ability to synthesize information.
Culture and sustainability on every journey
Beyond the competition, Renfe CercanÃas Madrid seeks with this project to highlight the sustainable and clean nature of the train. It aims to project an image of the railway as a space for reading and reflectionaway from everyday stress and close to artistic creation. For this reason, all the award-winning and finalist stories are available to read on the company's official website.
Furthermore, as a new way to make these stories accessible to all kinds of audiences, they are expected to be released soon in audio format. This is a wonderful way for travelers to enjoy these little literary gems while on their own journey, making the train travel experience be much more enriching and enjoyable for all users.
The closing of this edition leaves a great taste in the mouth and demonstrates that interest in short writing continues to grow in Spain, transforming a simple everyday journey, thanks to the imagination of the authors, into something truly special. Micro-stories that invite you to dream already discovering new worlds between seasons.
