The Tarragona Bar Association (Col·legi de l'Advocacia de Tarragona), in collaboration with the user platform Dignitat a les Vies, has developed a technical proposal to increase the compensation received by Renfe's Rodalies and Regionals travelers due to frequent delays. Currently, users are only entitled to a ticket refund if the delay exceeds 15 minutes, a process many abandon due to the additional time loss involved.
“"There is a mental burden and economic suffering that far exceeds the cost of the refunded ticket."
The new formula proposes the ticket refund plus a variable indemnity based on the severity of the delay. For instance, for a 30-minute delay, a compensation of 3.6 euros is suggested, while in more severe cases, the payment could reach 10.80 euros. Furthermore, attorney Xavier Capilla explains that systematic repetition of delays would lead to additional indemnities, such as free monthly passes.
“"It is clear that our time is not worth a ticket. We want it to hurt them so they improve the service and give us a decent, quality, and reliable service."
The proposal, originating in Tarragona, would be applicable to the entire Rodalies Renfe service and also to FGC if successful. The legal services of the Departament de Territori (Department of Territory) of the Generalitat, which holds ownership of the service, are already studying the technical and economic viability of the initiative, believing they have full authority to require Renfe to implement this system.
