The Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, announced the agreement after negotiating with all involved parties following the fatal accident in Gelida. The pact includes conducting “extraordinary tests to ratify the operability of the system” across the 13 routes of the Rodalies network.
A key novelty is that, in addition to technicians from Adif and Renfe, the train drivers will also participate in these inspections. According to Paneque, this “will increase some elements they consider necessary to operate with guarantees and peace of mind.” The supervisions have already begun simultaneously, but the Minister did not specify the resumption date, noting that information would be provided throughout the afternoon/evening.
The service halt occurred after only 6 out of the 140 drivers reported for work on Thursday morning, despite Adif having certified the network's safety on Wednesday. Paneque avoided calling it a covert strike but announced that the Government would open a file against Renfe for the lack of personnel.
“"When we became aware that the service would reopen, we communicated to them that we needed this report that was not being done."
Until the service returns to normal, alternative transport remains in place. Starting Friday, 100 additional buses will be added to reinforce service in regions such as Barcelonès, Baix Llobregat, Maresme, Vallès Oriental and Occidental, and the areas of Tarragona, Terres de l'Ebre, and Girona. Reinforcements for Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) also continue.
