An incident in the signaling system in Figueres has paralyzed for about two hours the circulation of Rodalies trains in the direction of Barcelona on Tuesday morning at Girona station. The service has been interrupted and passengers have had to wait without clear information about the resumption of the journeys.
Accumulated delays and discomfort among regular travelers
The users of Rodalies who use the Girona–Barcelona line have expressed their frustration over repeated delays and lack of punctuality. Many travelers have reported that usual journeys frequently exceed two hours, well above the scheduled time.
"The journey in principle is one hour and twenty minutes to Passeig de Gràcia, but for months I haven't taken that long. I take between an hour and three quarters and two and a half hours" - Pol, regular user
Pol, who uses the line daily, explains that he has had to modify his routines to be able to arrive at work on time. "Normally I would take the 8:47 one, but I always take the 7:44 one to be able to arrive on time if I'm lucky", he states. Furthermore, he believes that the free nature of the service does not compensate for the lack of reliability and would prefer to pay if the service worked correctly.
Disinformation and full trains in the stations of Girona and surroundings
The situation is repeated in other municipalities such as Sils or Caldes, where passengers board already full trains and often do not find a seat until reaching Girona. Amadeu and Concepció, regular users, report that they have stopped checking schedules because trains pass without prevision.
"There is no longer even a schedule, they have told us you go up here and take the first one that passes" - Amadeu and Concepció, travelers
The return from Barcelona also presents the same difficulties. Concepció comments that she no longer considers a fixed schedule to return and that uncertainty has become the norm.
Regional trains and AVE affected by incidents and strikes
The discomfort extends to AVE users between Figueres, Girona, and Barcelona. Eugenia, a regular user, details that the 8:09 train left at 8:50 and that the day before the first train departed from Girona at 9:30. From customer service, they have explained to her that Tuesday's problems are due to connection and operational incidents in Barcelona, in addition to the effects of the strike, such as the supposed lack of obligation for drivers to stay overnight in Figueres.
In recent weeks, Eugenia reports that they do not receive warning emails or explanations and that there are no compensations since the Aldamuz accident. She expresses her discomfort over what she considers a worse functioning in Catalonia compared to other routes to Madrid.
Resignation and criticisms of the management of the railway service
Resignation is a constant among travelers. Benja, another user, summarizes the general feeling after years of incidents. Several passengers have reported delays of up to forty-five minutes and crowded trains during peak hours.
"As always, a moment of resignation arrives" - Benja, traveler
Rosa, with more than 20 years using Rodalies, assures that the morning delays are around an hour on average and that the situation has worsened over time. She considers that if the political leaders used the service, they would be more aware of the problem.
"If politicians took Rodalies, they would know what they are talking about" - Rosa, regular user
Martina, another user, denounces the lack of regularity and the absence of information in stations like Maçanet, where she claims to have been stranded on several occasions or to have had to wait hours for train changes.
The incident this Tuesday in Figueres adds to a long series of episodes that have generated distrust and discomfort among railway transport users in Girona and its connection with Barcelona.