Rodalies commuter trains gradually resume after safety reports cleared by drivers' union

Rodalies train services have begun to resume after the Semaf drivers' union approved safety reports.

The majority union told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) it had reviewed reports covering the R1 between L'Hospitalet and Maçanet, the R2 Nord between Sant Andreu and Granollers, the R2 Sud between Sant Vicenç and Barcelona, and the R4 between Sant Vicenç and Sabadell.

New protocols agreed following fatal rail incidents in Gelida and Adamuz in January require drivers to review safety reports before resuming services.

Rail operator Renfe and infrastructure manager Adif had previously said trains could run "safely" across the network. 

According to union sources, new safety reports are still pending for sections of the R2 Nord and northern sections of the R4 affected by the torrential rain seen over the past number of days.

Services gradually return

Rodalies director Òscar Playà defended the safety procedures, saying they were based on certifications from Adif and Renfe and protocols approved by Spain's rail safety agency.

Playà said Rodalies expected to restore "100% of the network's service" during Wednesday morning, after widespread disruption earlier in the day.

Replacement buses

Rodalies has deployed around 200 buses to provide alternative transport and said they would remain in service until rail services return to an acceptable level.

On the R1, replacement buses are running between Arenys de Mar and Maçanet-Massanes. 

On the R2, replacement buses are operating between Granollers and Sant Celoni and between Sant Celoni and Sils, stopping at Gualba, Riells and Hostalric.

On the same line, trains are running on a single track between Cunit and Sant Vicenç de Calders because of infrastructure damage caused by Tuesday's heavy rain.

On the R3, services are disrupted between La Garriga and La Tor de Querol, with buses running between Ripoll and Puigcerdà. The replacement bus service linked to the works to double-track the line between Fabra i Puig and Puigcerdà remains in place.

No R11 or RG1 trains are running. Replacement buses are operating between Portbou and Sils and between Girona and Sant Andreu. 

Confusion as services resume

The gradual restoration of services was accompanied by delays and confusion at stations across Catalonia, with passengers reporting a lack of clear information about trains and replacement buses.

"It-s total disorder, total chaos," said one passenger waiting at Vilanova i la Geltrú, where services towards Barcelona only began to resume shortly before 10am. Passengers said information displayed on station screens did not match actual train departures.

In Girona, replacement buses were also running with delays after R11 and RG1 services were suspended.

"You go on an adventure, seeing what happens, day after day," said Xavier Laredo, a commuter travelling from Figueres to Girona who arrived more than an hour late for work after taking a replacement bus.

Many stations left without services for four hours

The disruption follows several days of heavy rain that have caused widespread problems across the Rodalies network.

On Tuesday evening, a tree and part of an embankment fell onto a train in Vilanova i la Geltrú, although no one was injured.

The disruption left many stations across Catalonia without train services for up to four hours on Wednesday morning, including on the R1, R2, R4, R7 and R8.

Protocols after fatal incidents

Drivers asked for safety reports on Tuesday and warned that they would not resume services until they had all the necessary safety guarantees and had been able to review the documents.

On Wednesday morning, the majority union said it was obliged to "protect the integrity of the railway service, particularly regarding the safety and health of workers."

Drivers told the company that services would resume only once all the checks required to mitigate the effects of the flooding had been completed.

The protocols were adopted after the fatal Adamuz and Gelida incidents in January, which triggered a wave of protests among railway workers.

An agreement was eventually reached under which worker representatives and operating company staff would inspect sections of track before they reopened following severe weather.

Once the inspection has been completed, a report on its findings must be sent to union representatives.

The Catalan government, however, said the disruption was not related to the safety of the tracks.

President Salvador Illa said the network had been certified as safe by Adif and Renfe and that the government would investigate the drivers' decision not to operate services.

Transport minister Sílvia Paneque said safety was the responsibility of the rail operators and that measures had been reinforced since Storm Harry in January.