Catalonia has found itself at the center of a transport meltdown that, in just a few days, has spiraled into a political storm. After a tragic rail accident, when a train collided with a collapsed wall resulting in the death of a trainee driver and dozens of injured passengers, the region effectively came to a standstill. Hundreds of thousands of residents have been left without their usual means of transportation, fueling growing outrage on the streets and across social media.
The authorities are under fire: opposition parties seized the opportunity to accuse Salvador Illa’s government of incompetence and inability to handle the crisis. Junts representatives were particularly harsh, using their rally in Perpinyà to lash out at the regional leadership. Carles Puigdemont not only publicly demanded the immediate resignation of the territories adviser, Sílvia Paneque, but also called on residents to mobilize massively against what he described as ‘socialist anesthesia.’
Transport collapse
The situation on the railways worsened by the day. After the fatal accident on Tuesday evening, when heavy rain caused a section of the AP-7 motorway wall to collapse directly onto the R4 line track, all movement was completely halted. That same evening, there was another incident on the R1 line—a train derailed, fortunately without casualties.
Authorities decided to suspend Rodalies service for the entire Wednesday to conduct a thorough infrastructure inspection. However, despite promises of a quick restoration, by Thursday it became clear that the situation was far from resolved. Train drivers refused to return to the lines, citing insufficient safety guarantees. Negotiations dragged on throughout the day, and only after agreeing to include drivers in the technical commissions inspecting the tracks was partial service restored on Friday.
New disruptions and mistrust
Friday’s reopening turned out to be only a temporary relief. Landslides struck the R1 line again, and trains continued running with persistent delays. Pressure on the network became unbearable, and train drivers openly declared they were not willing to risk their lives for questionable stability.
On Saturday, as the rain continued, the situation finally spiraled out of control. Information chaos, suspension of several lines, mass complaints from passengers—and ultimately, the government’s decision to halt Rodalies service entirely until all threats were eliminated. Authorities assured that passenger and staff safety was their absolute priority, and promised to carry out urgent inspections across the entire infrastructure.
Political offensive
While the railway network stood still, the opposition ramped up the pressure. In Perpignan, Puigdemont launched accusations at the Ilia government and Paneke personally, declaring that “such incompetence cannot be tolerated for even a day.” He recalled that just a few months earlier, the adviser had already faced sharp criticism in parliament for failures in the transport sector, and now, in his view, it is time for decisive personnel changes.
The Junts leader sought to portray his party as the sole alternative to the current chaos, urging supporters to “wake up Catalonia” and restore the region’s pride and ambition. According to him, a year and a half of socialist governance has left the country paralyzed, and public trust in the government is rapidly crumbling.
Voices of discontent
The criticism did not come from Junts alone. ERC parliamentary representative Ester Capella called on the government to take control of the situation and ensure transparent communication with citizens. She emphasized that residents cannot live in constant uncertainty and are demanding honest explanations for what is happening.
For their part, the Comuns party accused the authorities of a lack of transparency and timely information, while representatives of the People’s Party (PP) said passengers had been left to fend for themselves and the government was failing to respond. Far-right Vox leader Joan Garriga also demanded the immediate resignation of all those responsible for the transport collapse.
Authorities under pressure
With the regional president hospitalized and the transportation system paralyzed, the government is struggling to maintain control of the situation. Official statements emphasize that the main goal is to restore safety and return residents the ability to move freely. However, the opposition refuses to back down, and demands for changes in leadership are growing louder.
Catalonia watches developments with apprehension: the transport crisis has exposed not only weaknesses in infrastructure, but also deep political divisions. The question of who will be held accountable remains unresolved, and tensions around Rodalies continue to escalate.
