Garraf works plan starts: direct Sant Vicenç–El Prat bus and train adjustments

Alternative plan under way and initial assessments

Maintenance work in the Garraf tunnels began this Monday and is already causing a profound change to R2 Sur mobility. The Generalitat, Adif and Renfe have launched the Alternative Transport Plan (PAT), which reduces train frequency between Barcelona and Sitges and requires bus travel between Sant Vicenç de Calders and El Prat de Llobregat. The Barcelona–El Prat section retains eight trains per hour, but only four run between Barcelona and Garraf, and the Barcelona–Sant Vicenç service is limited to two double trainsets.

The mobility crisis caused by the Garraf works had already been explained in our previous coverage on the start of the operation and the expected impact on Rodalies.

Direct Sant Vicenç – El Prat bus and strengthened routes

The key part of the PAT is a special bus service directly linking Sant Vicenç with El Prat; from there, passengers can continue to Barcelona by Rodalies or metro. To compensate for the reduction in trains, 14,400 places have been added to interurban routes; the e16 Barcelona – Sitges gains 2,280 seats a day and the e15.1 linking Gran Via with Vilanova adds another 2,400. Other routes such as e15.2, e15.3, Sant Pere de Ribes – Barcelona and Vilanova – El Vendrell also increase their capacity.

Criticism and adjustments in the first days

Despite the reinforcements, the plan is generating distrust. The Dignitat a les Vies platform maintains that the planned transfer times, between two and four minutes at Sant Vicenç and El Prat, are impossible to meet. Users interviewed by COPE report delays of up to 15 minutes and an atmosphere of fatigue; some left home three hours earlier to arrive on time. Minister Sílvia Paneque says the PAT was planned with mayors and platforms and promises changes if faults are detected in the first days.

Mayors request more buses and free tolls

Complaints do not come only from users. Sitges mayor Aurora Carbonell welcomed the reinforcements but asked for more direct buses and for Renfe to keep to timetables, as well as requesting that the C-32 toll barriers be lifted while the works last. Other towns such as Vilanova and Cambrils have pointed out that they are not receiving as many reinforcements as Tarragona and call for fairness.

What you should know if you travel

The works will last at least three months; until June R2 Sur will operate on a single track and with reduced timetables.

Passengers on regional trains must get off at Sant Vicenç and take the direct bus to El Prat.

Capacity increases on express routes e16 and e15, but travellers are advised to allow more time for connections and check timetables daily.

The Generalitat will consider further improvements if the plan does not work as expected in these first days.