The sudden closure of the railway tunnel in Rubi has dealt a blow to Spain’s entire logistics system. In recent weeks, freight transport between the east of the country, France, and the rest of Europe has been virtually paralyzed. The reason is the emergency condition of a 900-meter section, which has been forced to shut down for repairs for seven weeks. For Spanish companies, this means not only delays, but also significant financial losses and a further erosion of trust in rail transport.
As El Pais notes, infrastructure problems in Catalonia are nothing new, but this incident has triggered discussion about the chronic lack of investment in the region’s railways. After the accident in Gelida in January, the tunnel was already closed for two weeks, leading to a build-up of railcars in La Llagosta, on tracks at the Port of Barcelona, and even in Perpignan (France). At that time, losses in the sector exceeded five million euros, and now the situation has only worsened.
According to RUSSPAIN.COM, such transport disruptions drive up shipping costs and force companies to switch to road transport, which increases the load on highways and fuel expenses. Logistics representatives, such as Multirail, point out that delivery from Rotterdam to Andalusia now requires a complex scheme with transshipment to trucks and additional transfers, raising transport costs by more than 20% and increasing delivery times by nearly one and a half times.
Problems with alternative routes
The Catalan authorities proposed an alternative route through Manresa, Lleida, and Sant Vicenç de Calders, which increases the journey by 330 kilometers and adds at least five hours to the travel time. However, no company has used this option—it proved economically unviable, and transporting hazardous cargo by this route is impossible. The head of the Association of Private Railway Companies (AEPF), Juan Diego Pedrero, emphasizes that such decisions only deepen the crisis of confidence in rail transport and damage the reputation of the Port of Barcelona.
Many clients have already switched to road transport, and winning them back will be difficult. According to industry representatives, losses amount to millions of euros, and some businesses are being forced to suspend operations. In their appeals to the European Commission and Spain’s Ministry of Transport, logistics companies are demanding urgent measures and compensation for the losses incurred.
Impact on the economy and ports
The Port of Barcelona declined to comment on the situation, but members of its board point out that the railway infrastructure crisis coincided with an increase in fuel prices and growing demand for trucks due to the tourist season and fruit harvest. This has led to a further rise in transport costs and complicated logistics for companies handling oversized or hazardous cargo, for which there is no alternative to rail.
Experts emphasize that the lack of alternative routes and insufficient ‘permeability’ of the railway network make the region’s economy vulnerable to such disruptions. The Ferrmed group, which advocates for the development of the freight corridor between southern and northern Europe, warns of the risk of a complete transport collapse if the situation does not change soon.
Systemic consequences
According to El Pais, repair work in the Rubí tunnel is underway at the most complex 60-meter section, and the schedule is currently being met. However, industry representatives fear that even after repairs are completed, infrastructure problems will persist unless the modernization program for the entire Catalonia railway network is implemented. Otherwise, Ferrmed believes, freight flows will ultimately shift to highways, leading to increased traffic congestion and environmental pollution.
In recent years, Spain has already faced transport crises caused by infrastructure failures and railway accidents. For example, at the beginning of 2024, mass legalization of migrants sparked a strong reaction in the European Union and led to new restrictions for the country — russpain.com analyzed the details of this conflict. Such events demonstrate how vulnerable Spain’s transport and economic systems are to external and internal shocks.
For reference: railway tunnels in Spain have repeatedly caused transport disruptions. In 2023, the temporary closure of a tunnel in Zaragoza led to supply delays that lasted several weeks. In 2025, a similar situation occurred near Valencia, where freight trains were forced to idle for days due to repairs on a key section. Experts point out that without systemic investment and the development of backup routes, such crises will keep recurring, resulting in continued losses for the country’s economy.
