Chaos on Rodalies: Barcelona wakes up without trains and with long queues at stations

Barcelona and its metropolitan area are suffering severe disruptions on Rodalies. Landslides on the R1 have forced Renfe to activate buses. Engineers are inspecting the infrastructure. Travellers are facing delays and endless journeys.

Barcelona and its metropolitan area woke up this Saturday plunged into rail chaos. The Rodalies de Catalunya service is paralysed on several sections and experiencing major delays, following landslides on the R1 line. The urgent inspection of the infrastructure has forced the suspension of numerous journeys and the improvisation of alternatives.

Renfe has deployed bus services to cover the affected routes. On the R1, travellers must travel by road between Blanes y Maçanet-Massanes and between Badalona y Montgat. The rest of the line is only running two trains per hour in each direction, well below the usual frequency.

On the R2 Sud, the section between Castelldefels y Garraf is also being covered by buses. The R3 is offering alternative transport between Fabra i Puig, Garriga y Ribes. The R4, meanwhile, is forcing passengers to change modes between Terrassa y Martorell, and between Martorell Central y Sant Sadurní d’Anoia. Only between Manresa y Martorell Central is the usual timetable being maintained, while between Sant Vicenç de Calders y Sant Sadurní d’Anoia there is one train per hour in each direction.

These solutions allow users to get around, although journeys are longer and stations are filling up with queues and nervousness. Renfe and Adif, together with the Govern, have mobilised geotechnical engineers to inspect all points at risk of landslides. Information and customer service staff have been reinforced at the most affected stations.

A key meeting is scheduled for 9am at the Department of Territory to coordinate alternative services and plan the gradual resumption of trains. In the meantime, mobility in Barcelona and its surroundings continues to be marked by uncertainty and waiting.