This figure of 183 restrictions surpasses the 126 detected in 2016 and highlights the severe deterioration of the Catalan railway infrastructure. All Rodalies and Regional lines are affected, forcing trains to run at lower speeds than permitted, causing accumulated delays.
The most affected line is the R4 (between Manresa and Sant Vicenç de Calders), with 48 limited speed points, including the section near the Gelida accident. This line suffers incidents due to both poor track conditions and the ongoing works for the Mediterranean Corridor.
The lack of investment in maintenance and the absence of foresight regarding incidents are the main cause of these 183 temporary speed restrictions.
Among the Regional lines, the unprecedented case of the R15 stands out, where the entire 72-kilometer stretch between Reus and Riba-roja d'Ebre will be limited to a maximum of 30 kilometers per hour starting next Monday. This measure will extend the journey time beyond two hours.
The main causes of these limitations are track problems (rails and switch changes), totaling 75 points, and defects in embankments and slopes, accounting for 50 points. The recent landslide in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, which cut the R4, exemplifies the vulnerability of the terrain.
