Rodalies commuter trains back in operation after multiple incidents Monday morning

Monday has started with more disruptions in the Rodalies commuter rail service. 

After two separate incidents on Monday morning, trains have been back up and running again since around 8:30 am.

The incidents both occurs at the Centralized Traffic Center of infrastructure operators Adif, located in Estació de França, according to rail operators Renfe.

Service had initially started around 6am on Monday as planned, with transport alternatives offered in some sections.

However, the first incident caused the service to be suspended at around 6:30 am, it was suspended again due to an incident at Adif's control center.

Shortly after 7am service gradually began to resume, but this lasted only a few minutes, as before 7.30am service was suspended again.

Speaking to Catalunya Ràdio, Renfe spokesman Antonio Carmona explained that technicians are working to ensure that the incident does not happen again and that “there will be time to determine the causes.”

The Renfe spokesman explained that, when there is an incident at the control centre, rail traffic is stopped “for safety."

"Beginning of the end" of Rodalies mess

The president of Adif, Pedro Marco de la Peña, assured on Monday that we are facing the “beginning of the end” of the Rodalies mess.

“We are much better now, even though it seems the opposite,” he remarked in a press conference alongside the president of Renfe.

Neither Renfe nor Adif have been able to specify when full normality will be restored to the service.

Rather, they pointed out that new rains are arriving this week to be added to the network.

Meanwhile, government officials have demanded that both companies "assume responsibility" for the "serious accumulation" of incidents that "repeatedly" affect the rail network.

This was reported by the Catalan government in a brief statement.

Presidency minister Albert Dalmau, acting as President while Salvador Illa remains sick, has asked to speak in Wednesday's parliament plenary session.

Commuter fury

The rocky resumption to service in the Rodalies network has led to bewilderment and indignation among commuters.

R1 passengers woke convinced they would be able to use the line for their journeys on Monday. The incident at the Adif control center and the interruption of service at Arenys de Mar, however, have once again shaken the plans of many people.

"It's a disaster," Maria said, still panting, after running the 800 meters between the Mataró train station and her alternative bus stop.

This bus was the main option for commuters to get to Barcelona in recent days, with added coach services operating.

"When I left, the trains were running, now there aren't any," Maria added.