A Barcelona red wind alert is now active as the city braces for severe weather this Thursday. Consequently, the arrival of Storm Nils has prompted the City Council to activate emergency protocols. This action aligns with the Pla especial d’emergències per risc de vent a Catalunya (VENTCAT), which warns of wind gusts exceeding 100 kilometres per hour.
Authorities are urging maximum caution. Therefore, Mayor Jaume Collboni has requested that residents avoid all unnecessary travel and stay at home where possible. In response to the alert, non-urgent medical appointments, school classes, and outdoor sporting and cultural activities have been suspended. These include the Santa Eulàlia festivities and Carnival events.
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Meanwhile, the Generalitat de Catalunya has encouraged businesses to facilitate remote working. However, many workers will still need to commute. For those who must travel, the public transport network is operating with specific modifications and suspensions to ensure passenger safety.
Metro, Buses and Trams During the Barcelona Red Wind Alert
The core urban transport network remains largely operational. The Barcelona Metro and standard urban bus lines are running according to their regular schedules. Because the majority of the metro network is underground, it is less vulnerable to falling trees and street-level hazards compared to bus services.
However, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has confirmed that the Barcelona Bus Turístic is suspended for the entire day due to the wind risk.
Additionally, TRAM has confirmed that both the Trambesòs and Trambaix tram networks are fully operational this Thursday.
Trains: Rodalies and FGC Service Updates
Rail services are running but with precautionary measures that may increase travel times. The Rodalies network is operating with speed restrictions across the board. Before passenger services began, operators conducted ‘white runs’. These empty trains travelled at reduced speeds to verify that tracks were clear of debris.
“Obviously, if we have any incident such as trees falling on the tracks, circulation will be interrupted,” stated Núria Parlon, the Minister of the Interior.
Similarly, Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) has adjusted its service. Specific speed reductions are in place on the Vallès and Baix Llobregat-Anoia lines, which will likely impact timetables. Furthermore, FGC has also closed all tourist operations under its management, including ski resorts.
Bicycles and Cable Cars Suspended
Cycling services have been completely halted. Bicing, the city’s public bike-sharing scheme, suspended operations from 00:00 on Thursday. The service will remain offline until the emergency protocol is deactivated. The Council suggests a potential suspension until at least 20:00. The metropolitan service, AMBici, is also out of service.
Finally, the Montjuïc cable car is closed, as is the funicular connecting Paral·lel station to the mountain. It is noted that the cable car was already undergoing a scheduled maintenance review (running from 2 February to 1 March), keeping it out of service regardless of the storm.
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