FGC apologizes for leaving 5 seconds early: extreme punctuality sparks memes

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat has formally apologized on social media for a train that departed slightly ahead of its scheduled time.

Generic image of a train about to depart from a station.
IA

Generic image of a train about to depart from a station.

Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) has caused a notable stir on social media after issuing a public apology to a user for a train that departed just five seconds ahead of its scheduled time at Sant Cugat station.

FGC's punctuality has reached a level that prompted an institutional apology for a minimal difference, starkly contrasting with the usual criticism directed at Rodalies de Catalunya for delays and structural issues. This situation has led to numerous memes and comparisons on social media, where users are ironically highlighting the service quality disparity.
The incident occurred when a passenger pointed out on the X network (formerly Twitter) that a train on line 115 had left Sant Cugat station two minutes before its scheduled departure. FGC's official response stated that the train had only departed five seconds early and apologized for any inconvenience, confirming the scheduled departure time of 11:47 AM.
This extreme punctuality is reminiscent of similar cases documented in Japan, where railway companies have issued formal apologies for departures up to 20 seconds early. In Catalonia, the situation highlights the performance gap between FGC, managed by the Generalitat since 1979 with constant infrastructure control, and Renfe's Rodalies, which suffers from historical problems stemming from the fragmentation of the Spanish railway system.
Social media has been flooded with humorous comments and images reflecting the frustration of Rodalies users, who wish for a normality based on the punctuality offered by FGC. Rodalies' user data already shows a significant decline, with a 25.2% drop in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the previous year.