The Rodalies rail network in Catalonia remains suspended, with the government launching an inquiry into Renfe, the train operator. The suspension follows a fatal accident on Tuesday night in Gelida, near Barcelona, where an R4 line train crashed, killing one driver and injuring dozens of passengers. The Catalan government announced a 'progressive' recovery of service on Thursday, but no trains were operational at the expected 6 am restart time.
The service interruption has caused significant disruption for commuters, with many seeking alternatives to reach work or school. Passenger Lola, for instance, opted for the AVE high-speed service to arrive at Figueres, where she studies, highlighting the impact on her education. Nelson, another traveler, criticized Renfe's policy of not allowing travel with the AVE using Rodalies tickets, forcing him to buy a new ticket for his commute to Figueres.
The government has increased capacity for the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC) commuter service and suspended the toll at the Garraf highway. Bus operators have also been requested to increase capacity. Catalan presidency minister Albert Dalmau, acting as interim president, emphasized Renfe's responsibility for resolving internal issues related to their working agreement.
The government has decided to open an inquiry into Renfe, as Pere Macias, a member of the Rodalies transfer committee, stated that the operator is not providing the required service. Macias emphasized the importance of security, which has been granted according to Adif's reports, and the negative impact on the mobility of thousands of Catalans.
The Semaf train drivers' labor union has announced a strike on February 9, 10, and 11, across all train companies in Spain, demanding the recovery of security standards. The union believes this is the only legal way to address the issues following the fatal accidents in Andalusia and Gelida.
Renfe has begun removing the train involved in the Gelida accident, with the first car, which impacted with the fallen wall, to be dismantled on-site. Experts are studying the possibility of using a large crane to remove the most affected cars from the tracks, but the operation is complex due to the situation on the AP-7 highway and the risk of collapse.
