Rodalies commuter rail services in Catalonia continue to suffer severe problems. Added to the partial interruption of the R2 Nord, affected by a sinkhole in Moncada, is now the total suspension of the R3, which connects L'Hospitalet de Llobregat with Puigcerdà, passing through cities such as Barcelona, Granollers, Vic, and Ripoll.
According to Adif, the incident on the R3 affects the railway traffic regulation system, making circulation unsafe. Initially, Renfe pointed to cable theft as the cause, but later ruled it out. As an alternative measure, a road transport service has been set up between Fabra i Puig (Barcelona) and Puigcerdà (Girona), while the section between L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Fabra i Puig can be covered using the R4 line.
The Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, has expressed hope that the circulation on the R2 Nord, interrupted due to the tunneling works in Moncada, can be resumed from next week. Paneque indicated that initial impressions are positive and that, once Adif confirms the safety of the infrastructure, tests will be carried out before the service is restored.
The R3 line has been the most affected by this rail crisis. Since October, it has suffered various closures and delays due to works on slopes and tunnels, as well as specific incidents such as a tree falling or objects on the track. The collapse of a wall from a cement factory in Montcada last March also delayed the reopening of sections.
In parallel, Minister Paneque has highlighted the Government's efforts to toughen penalties for cable theft and other railway infrastructure elements, given that half of cable thefts in Spain occur in Catalonia, affecting thousands of travelers.
In a tragic and separate incident, a 66-year-old worker died from electrocution early this Saturday while performing maintenance tasks on the overhead lines of the railway line in Sant Mori (Girona). Despite the efforts of emergency services, his life could not be saved.
