Catalonia’s railway network is experiencing a prolonged crisis that is already affecting the daily lives of local residents. Hundreds of delays, train cancellations, and speed restrictions have become a regular part of commuting, while new construction on key sections only heightens the strain. For many Spaniards, this means lost time, trouble commuting to work, and an inability to plan trips in advance.
According to El Pais, even during major international events such as the Mobile World Congress, when Barcelona is in the global spotlight, train disruptions continue. The line connecting the city to El Prat Airport has seen numerous incidents, causing frustration among both locals and visitors. Across the Rodalies network, there are more than two hundred areas with speed restrictions due to ongoing or necessary maintenance.
Construction in Garraf
In March, major work will begin in the Garraf tunnels, which, according to Transport Minister Óscar Puente, is considered urgent due to the worn-out infrastructure. As a result, trains will operate on a single track, further slowing down travel on the southern line. This will lead to fewer trains running between the Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltrú stations, while the R13, R14, R15, R16, and R17 routes will be rerouted via Vilafranca del Penedès.
Passengers have already faced serious inconveniences. On the R11 line, traffic between Portbou and Figueres was halted on Tuesday morning due to signaling issues. Although the malfunction was fixed in less than an hour, train delays towards Girona and Barcelona persisted until midday, with wait times exceeding an hour. On other routes leading to Lleida, Tarragona, Reus, and Terres de l’Ebre, 30-minute delays or longer have become routine.
Problems on other lines
On the R3 line, which connects Barcelona with Vic and Puigcerdà, service has been completely stopped and there is no clear timeline for its restoration. According to the R3 passenger platform, the stretch between La Garriga and Ripoll may reopen in the coming weeks, but trains are not expected to run to Puigcerdà until at least April. Buses are being used as an alternative, but passengers complain there are not enough of them and they cannot handle the flow of people.
Not only suburban train users are experiencing difficulties. High-speed lines and Avant trains, which have become a popular alternative due to distrust of Rodalies, are also facing disruptions. On Friday, dozens of passengers had to leave a train that was stuck in the tunnel between La Sagrera and Sants stations. Despite ticket prices being higher, Avant and Euromed trains running between Barcelona and Valencia are often delayed. On Tuesday, a Euromed train arrived in Barcelona with a one-hour delay.
Plans and promises
The Catalan authorities claim to be implementing a large-scale railway modernization program, but rapid improvements are not expected. The Minister of Transport emphasizes that work in Garraf will begin in March and last for three months. Reinforcing and stabilizing support structures has been deemed necessary for safety, but residents and mayors of towns along the route express concerns for their safety and are demanding faster progress. According to the minister, the delay in starting the work was due to a request from the Catalan government not to conduct several repairs simultaneously to avoid completely paralyzing traffic.
Currently, there are 130 construction projects underway across the Rodalies network, and over the past two years, €1.2 billion has been invested in Catalonia’s railways. According to RUSSPAIN.COM, Renfe posted a profit for the first time in five years, closing out 2025 with a net income of €50 million, made possible by the success of its Renfe Viajeros division.
Context and consequences
Problems with railway connections in Spain are nothing new. In recent years, train disruptions and delays have been reported not only in Catalonia, but also in other regions of the country. For example, passengers in Madrid and Valencia have also faced widespread cancellations and timetable disruptions. Amid these challenges, interest is growing in alternative means of transport and new routes, while pressure is mounting on authorities to speed up infrastructure modernization. The impact of transport issues on the social sphere is becoming increasingly evident: as a recent analysis showed, rising child poverty in Spain is closely linked to declining access to quality services, including transportation, which is covered in detail in the report on new challenges for families in the country.
