Starting May 9, free travel on Rodalies trains in Catalonia will end—the authorities have announced a return to regular fares after restoring 96% of the pre-incident traffic disrupted by the accident in Gelida. The decision comes against assurances that the main phase of the crisis has been overcome and passenger numbers are gradually returning to pre-crisis levels.
According to Transport Secretary José Antonio Santano, 186 million euros have been spent restoring infrastructure in the three months since the accident. Despite offering free rides, Rodalies lost some passengers during this period, and the state budget incurred additional expenses—the amount exceeded 50 million euros just during the fare cancellation period. Authorities note that the network has now regained 90% of its previous users, but fully restoring passenger trust remains a challenge.
Restrictions and unfinished works
The resumption of service comes with several restrictions. Temporary speed limits remain in effect on some sections—their number has dropped from 226 to 147, and the aftermath of January’s storm, according to Santano, will be resolved by June. Certain lines continue to experience disruptions: for example, on the R8 route (Martorell — Granollers via Cerdanyola Universitat), passenger service is still replaced by buses, and trains are to return only after the end of the academic year in June. Freight trains are already running through the Rubí tunnel, but for now only on a single track.
On the R4 line (Sant Vicenç de Calders — Manresa), after a three-month break, the section between Terrassa and Manresa is reopening, making it possible to stop using replacement buses on this stretch. However, the R3 line (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat — Puigcerdà) remains the most problematic: repair work has been ongoing there since October, and no timeline for full restoration has been given yet. Bus transfers are still operating on certain sections, and in the tunnels between Ribes de Freser and Puigcerdà, work will continue without a set completion date.
Plans and new trains
Catalan and Spanish authorities emphasize that the restoration of Rodalies is on schedule, although some infrastructure still requires additional investment. In particular, work in the Garraf tunnels on the R2 sur line will be completed by June. In addition, new trains are expected: under a contract with Alstom, only 16 of the promised 72 train sets will be delivered by the end of the year, with the rest arriving later. The head of the Catalan transport department, Sílvia Paneque, recalled decades of underfunding and expressed hope that passenger confidence can be fully restored.
Context and consequences
The decision to reinstate fares coincided with a partial restoration of service and the lifting of some restrictions, but not all problems have been resolved. On the R15 line between Mora la Nova and Riba-roja d’Ebre, buses are still in operation. Authorities promise that most temporary measures will be lifted by summer, but passengers should be aware of possible schedule and route changes.
Previously, the region experienced widespread delays and disruptions on the railway, which negatively affected thousands of residents. More details on the scale of the transport problems and their impact on passengers can be found in the report on record delays of Rodalies in Barcelona: details about the recent disruptions in commuter train service.
