This extension, initially set to end on March 31, reflects the Catalan Government's desire to maintain free travel until the railway service achieves sustained normality. The Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, had already expressed this intention last week.
The involved entities, Renfe, Adif, and the Catalan Government, anticipate that by the end of April, 90% of the temporary speed limitations that arose after the Gelida accident on January 20, 2026, will have been resolved. However, Sílvia Paneque admitted that some restrictions might extend into early May due to the fragility of the railway infrastructure.
“"It is possible that some temporary speed limitations, derived from the fragility of the Catalan railway infrastructure, could persist into early May."
The return to normality will be partial, as 133 speed restrictions that were active on January 1, 2026, before the mobility crisis erupted, will still need to be addressed.
Constant incidents have led to a significant drop in demand. While in 2025, monthly Rodalies users in Barcelona ranged between 8 and 10 million, the first two months of 2026 saw figures below 6 million. In January, 5.74 million journeys were recorded, and in February, 5.76 million. These figures pertain exclusively to the Rodalies de Barcelona service, excluding regional lines or services in Lleida, Tarragona, and Girona.
The free Rodalies de Catalunya passes allow for 10 cost-free journeys as a compensatory measure. They are valid until April 30, 2026, or until all journeys are used. There are two types: one for Rodalies de Barcelona, valid for all core zones, and another for regional trains, which requires selecting the origin and destination upon purchase. These multi-person tickets can be obtained without prior registration or deposit at ticket offices and self-service machines. The only exception to the free travel is the Avant Exprés between Barcelona and Tortosa, where seat reservation is required.
