The slope of the AP-7 in Gelida, where a month ago the fatal accident occurred that cost the life of a trainee driver, is already repaired and the track is ready for passenger trains. However, since the 9th of this month, only freight trains have been running on that section.
Urgent repairs and reinforced surveillance in Rodalies
After the accident, considered the worst Rodalies crisis in recent history, 91 critical points were detected on the Catalan railway network. Of these, 20 have been officially repaired in the first two weeks of intervention. Currently, work continues on three out of every four critical points, while the list of incidents already exceeds one hundred due to more exhaustive monitoring that has revealed new risk areas.
The review process has been extended to bridges, tunnels, trenches, and slopes. Adif has deployed 400 workers on the ground to carry out the emergency works. The validation of the repaired sections corresponds to the safety managers of Renfe and the drivers themselves, who must give the go-ahead before communicating the section's availability to the Generalitat.
Recent incidents and difficulties in recovery
The last attempt to re-establish the circulation of the RL4 between Cervera and Manresa, last Friday, resulted in failure. Water leaks in a tunnel forced the suspension of service and the transfer of travelers by bus. On the other hand, the wind left the R16 line between Tarragona and Tortosa without service last Wednesday.
José Antonio Santano, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Transport, remains in Barcelona and does not dare to update the service recovery deadlines. The situation remains uncertain for regular Rodalies users.
More sections under review and speed limitations
After the accident, 31 priority sections for intervention were identified, almost half on lines R3 and R4. Initially, 648 points were added for inspection, although this figure has become obsolete due to the appearance of new incidents. Before the accident on January 20, there were a hundred sections with temporary speed restrictions. Now, that figure has doubled, which directly affects the regularity of the service.
"perverse normality" - Sílvia Paneque, Minister of Territory
The Minister of Territory has described the situation with this expression, reflecting the seriousness and exceptionality of the moment the Catalan railway network is going through.
- 20 critical points repaired out of 91 detected
- 400 operators deployed by Adif
- The Gelida section has only been accommodating freight trains since the 9th of this month
- Temporary speed restrictions doubled after the accident