Barcelona at a standstill: Rodalies running at half speed, AP-7 closed and ZBE suspended

Barcelona remains mired in chaos after the Gelida accident. Rodalies is operating with serious delays. The AP-7 remains closed until Saturday. The ZBE is suspended. Find out how to get around the city today.

Barcelona faces another day of chaotic mobility after the railway accident in Gelida. Rodalies has resumed service on all its lines, but delays and platform overcrowding exceed what is usual. The AP-7 remains closed southbound and the Low Emission Zone (ZBE) remains suspended to make it easier to use private cars.

The agreement reached between the Generalitat, Adif, Renfe and Semaf has made it possible to reopen Rodalies, although the system is operating under irregular conditions. The R1 runs with reduced frequencies and delays of more than 30 minutes. On the R4, the section between Sant Vicenç de Calders and Martorell is covered by replacement buses. The R2 Nord is now integrated into the general scheme, but trains have been full since early morning.

Overnight inspections have made it possible to reopen the network, but normality is far away. The debate over safety and the state of the infrastructure remains open, while stoppages planned for February maintain uncertainty.

The rest of public transport is absorbing the extra demand. Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat is operating normally and the metro and TRAM are running their usual service, although with greater occupancy at connections with Cercanías. Urban and intercity buses are reinforcing routes, especially in the corridors affected by the AP-7 closure and diversions via the A-2.

The AP-7, closed in Martorell due to a risk of instability, is diverting thousands of vehicles and lorries towards the A-2 and other routes. Trànsit recommends alternatives such as the C-32 and the B-42, while queues on the A-2 have been stretching out since early morning. The barriers at the Garraf tunnels (C-32) remain raised, making the coastal route the preferred, though congested, option.

The suspension of the ZBE in Barcelona and its metropolitan area remains in force at least until today, allowing any vehicle to enter without penalty. This measure could be extended if problems on Rodalies persist, although it contributes to congestion.

The authorities recommend working from home if possible and avoiding unnecessary journeys. If there is no alternative, they advise staggering schedules and checking real-time updates from Trànsit and transport operators. Rodalies has enabled an official certificate for those affected by the rail chaos.