Full Rodalies commuter train service won't resume until April

The Rodalies commuter train network in Catalonia will not resume full service until April, operator Renfe confirmed on Friday.

For the past two weeks, the network, which provides daily transport for millions of Catalans, has been either partially running or completely suspended.

Currently, only the R2 line is operating at full capacity, connecting Sant Vicenç de Calders with Maçanet-Massanes via Barcelona and the metropolitan area.

Most other lines are running with bus replacements at certain sections, with plans for a gradual reopening.

The R3 line, which connects Barcelona through the Vallès region to Osona, is expected to return to service in two weeks.

The R4 line, starting in Manresa in central Catalonia and heading southeast toward Terrassa and Sabadell, is operating in a fragmented manner following a recent landslide on the tracks. No date has been set for its full reopening.

This disruption follows a drivers' protest over the poor state of the tracks, sparked by a fatal accident in Gelida that killed one worker and injured more than 30 others.

When the crisis began, Renfe and the track management operator Adif were forced to inspect the lines and discovered several issues, which are now being addressed.

For many, the situation is far from unusual, as Rodalies has long been associated with delays, service disruptions, and poor maintenance.

On Saturday at 5 pm, 20 transport and civic organizations will stage a protest in Barcelona.

They aim to denounce the "anxiety and uncertainty" caused by the service, which they say "has reached its limit because it is no longer reliable."

Spokespersons are calling for a "radical increase in investment in the network" to ensure that trains operate with certainty, safety, and reliability.

Drivers' strike

On top of the current chaos in the network, a drivers’ strike is set to take place next week across Spain, from February 9 to 11.

The entire train drivers’ sector has been shocked and angered by the recent train accidents in Adamuz, Córdoba, which left 46 people dead, and in Gelida, Catalonia, which killed a driver.

The protest has been called by the unions SEMAF, CCOO, and UGT, who are currently negotiating with the Spanish and Catalan governments.

Negotiations focus on track safety and maintenance, which remain the drivers’ main demands.

"The strike continues because, so far, we do not have the necessary guarantees to ensure our demands are met," a spokesperson said.