The trains on the R4 and R8 lines of the Rodalies core network in Barcelona are experiencing significant delays due to a fault in the electrification system, which has affected the normal operation of the service this Monday morning. The train's catenary got snagged in Castellbisbal, triggering disruptions that resulted in average delays of 25 minutes. ADIF has reported that, specifically on the R4 line, only two trains per hour in each direction are running, while on the stretch of the R8 between Castellbisbal and Rubí an alternative road transport service has been implemented. This incident adds to a series of recent problems that have put Rodalies under intense scrutiny by the authorities and users.
The changes in Renfe's internal leadership, which include the reassignment of Antonio Carmona to head of institutional relations and the appointment of Josep Enric Garcia Alamany as the new operations director, have gained renewed relevance following the incident. Carmona has not been officially relieved of his duties, but the adjustments began in February, preceding this crisis. The Catalan president, Salvador Illa, has admitted that the Rodalies service is deficient, although he assures future improvements thanks to investments in infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Parliament of Catalonia has censured the Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, Sílvia Paneque, for her management, and has requested both her dismissal and that of Minister Óscar Puente, in a situation that has also drawn criticism toward the leaderships of Renfe and Adif. Councillor Paneque revealed worrying figures about the service: one in four trains is out of service in Catalonia, and a considerable portion of the ancillary infrastructure, such as elevators and escalators, does not function properly.
Read the full news article on The Country.
