The Rodalies crisis drives up intercity bus use in Barcelona

The scene is now repeated at peak times. Stops full of people, long queues and users wondering whether they will be able to board the first bus or will have to wait for the next one. What used to be a secondary option for many journeys has become a practical way to get to work, class or an appointment without relying on the train.

The change is noticeable both within Barcelona and in municipalities connected to the city. People who have used Rodalies every day for years are reorganising their routines, leaving home earlier or trying new transport combinations to avoid being trapped by a disruption.

The problem is that buses are also beginning to feel the pressure. On some routes, demand exceeds available capacity and vehicles arrive full at certain stops. Increased frequency helps, but it is not always enough when the transfer of passengers is concentrated in the same time slots.

The situation makes clear the extent to which Rodalies supports much of everyday mobility in the metropolitan area. When the train fails, the impact does not remain on the platforms: it spills onto the roads, bus stops, journey times and the daily organisation of thousands of families.

It also forces us to look at public transport as a complete network, rather than as isolated services. Buses can ease part of the collapse, but if they become the only reliable alternative for too many people, the system ends up shifting the problem from one point to another.

The queues at the stops neatly sum up the moment Barcelona is going through: travellers adapt, try routes and change habits, but they need certainty. Until Rodalies regains reliability, every peak hour will continue to be a small test of endurance for those who depend on public transport to get around the city and its metropolitan area.