Rodalies de Catalunya will be paid again starting May 9. The temporary free measure was in effect since January 24 after the Gelida train accident.
The end of free
The free 10-trip passes will not be valid beyond May 8. If there are trips left on the passes, they will be invalidated once the deadline set by the competent authorities expires.
Territory Minister Sílvia Paneque has assured that 96% of the service that Rodalies offered before the incident has already been recovered. This figure reflects the progress in the rehabilitation of the network after months of partial paralysis.
Paneque indicated that 90% of regular users have already returned to using the train. The Government defends that the return to payment will allow the progressive normalization of the service's operation.
Partial recovery of lines
On Monday, May 4, circulation on the R15 line between Reus and Móra la Nova was partially restored. This line had been cut off for more than three months due to repair work.
The emergency works carried out by Adif allowed the service to be resumed on this specific section. The line continues to be interrupted beyond Móra la Nova with no fixed date for the full recovery of the route.
"90% of regular users have already returned to using the train" - Sílvia Paneque, counselor of Territory
On Tuesday, May 5, the recovery of service on line R3 between Ripoll and Ribes de Freser is scheduled. This restoration represents a firm step towards the return to operational normality in the northern area.
The suspended section between Terrassa and Manresa on line R4 since January will be restored. The entire R4 line will resume operating with trains after overcoming the limitations imposed by the initial incident.
The aftermath of the accident
The accident forced the suspension of all service in Catalonia during its most critical moments. The magnitude of the impact paralyzed the mobility of thousands of citizens for entire weeks.
The event evidenced nearly a thousand deficiencies in the Catalan railway infrastructure. These structural shortcomings have marked the slow pace of repairs during recent months.