The chaotic situation was evident from early morning, with trains not running and travelers like Nil, who had to recalculate his arrival for a medical appointment in Barcelona. The public address system only periodically repeated that trains were running “outside the usual schedule.”
“"Perhaps it will pass, or perhaps not."
This was the response received by Girona resident Rafael Soldevila when he asked the ticket clerk if his train would depart, reflecting the uncertainty experienced by the employees themselves. Many travelers, like Rafael Soldevila, considered taking the AVE high-speed train back if the service remained complicated.
Laura García, a Humanities student at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, complained that the delays are “an everyday occurrence,” noting that she had already missed four days of class the previous week, jeopardizing a morning exam. Anahí Ruiz also arrived late for her dentist appointment in Sils.
Adding to the operational confusion was an administrative error: staff at the Girona station charged tickets early in the morning, despite the fact that the Minister of Territori, Sílvia Paneque, had announced the service would be free for the entire month. Renfe acknowledged the error and promised refunds to the affected users.
