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The key Rodalies project in Baix Llobregat restarts after contract suspension
Mobility in the Barcelona area has taken another hit. ADIF has suspended the contract to expand the railway corridor from two to four tracks between Castelldefels and El Prat, forcing the entire process to start over.
The decision sends the project back to an early stage and delays works considered key to easing congestion on Rodalies. The new tender and drafting of the project, which could take up to 36 months, push the start of the works beyond 2029.
For those who travel daily from Baix Llobregat, the consequence is immediate: longer journeys, crowded trains, and a service that still fails to meet real demand. Overcrowding and incidents will continue to shape the daily routine of thousands of users.
The expansion would allow the separation of different types of rail traffic. With four tracks, long-distance trains could overtake commuter trains, reducing unnecessary stops and cutting travel times by seven to fifteen minutes on the approach to Barcelona.
Political and local discontent has already reached the town councils. At the latest municipal meeting, a motion put forward by Esquerra Republicana called for the project to be unblocked and for investments to be prioritised to guarantee a reliable service. The proposal received broad support, although there were notable abstentions.
The Generalitat de Catalunya has also been urged to press for the infrastructure to remain a priority within the Rodalies plan.
ADIF plays a key role in this type of project, and its decisions have a direct impact on daily life. In areas like Baix Llobregat, where dependence on the train is high, every delay in investment means more time lost and a lower quality of life.