Rain stopped trains between Sant Vicenç de Calders and Tarragona for about 40 minutes. The disruption affected the R14, R15, R16 and R17 lines, while Renfe restored service at 21:50.
The affected rail section stayed closed for about 40 minutes. The disruption hit the R14, R15, R16 and R17 lines. Renfe arranged road transport for passengers and restored train movements at 21:50.
El Confidencial reported that the suspension also affected RT1 and RT2 services, citing alerts from Catalonia's Protección Civil. The interruption therefore reached beyond the four lines first identified.
The cause was weather. A curtain of water crossed the coast of Tarragona and Barcelona and made safe railway operation impossible. Renfe suspended the connection while regional services could not pass through the affected section.
The suspension between Sant Vicenç de Calders and Tarragona also affected the RT1 and RT2 services, according to reporting based on Catalonia’s Protección Civil alerts.
It was brief. Four lines were affected at once.
The incident came during a wider disruption across the Rodalies network. More than half of its lines were affected by the storm. On parts of the R13 and R14 routes, replacement buses ran between Les Borges Blanques and Sant Vicenç de Calders.
Renfe directed passengers to the road service. The company had not given a precise end time at first. Normal train circulation resumed shortly before 22:00.
3Cat described a gradual return to service. Some routes reopened for trains, while buses continued to cover parts of the R13 and R14.
The railway problems came during a day of heavy rain in Tarragona and other parts of Catalonia. Roads and other transport services also faced incidents. A separate episode linked to heavy rain was covered in an earlier flood report, adding to the picture of a difficult day for mobility in several areas.
Meteocat had forecast more than 40 litres of rain per square metre in 30 minutes. An orange warning covered Baix Ebre and Montsià. Yellow warnings applied to Baix Camp, Tarragonès, Baix Penedès and Alt Camp.
The storm affected more than rail travel: regional reports described flooded streets, road closures and rescues of drivers, including in Baix Ebre. The same weather system therefore created both network restrictions and immediate risks for motorists.
Baix Penedès faced a more immediate emergency. Police Local and Bombers rescued people trapped inside cars. Three rescues took place in the Blanquet car park. Two more happened on Pescadors street.
The same weather episode moved quickly from a transport problem to rescue work. Railway staff focused on signalling and safety. On the roads, emergency crews reached people inside vehicles.
Earlier in the same weather period, separate long-distance services between Barcelona and València were suspended. Regional trains in Tarragona also stopped. The restrictions reached beyond one rail section.
Service has resumed. The reported interruption lasted around 40 minutes. During severe coastal rain, trains can stop even when the closure is short. Renfe restored the connection, but rain continued to cause problems across Tarragona and Catalonia.
