The Catalan Government and the Catalunya en Comú party, known as the Comuns, have reached a significant agreement to transfer control of five key Rodalies de Catalunya commuter rail lines to the regional government, the Generalitat de Catalunya. The deal, a central component of the ongoing 2026 budget negotiations, marks a pivotal step towards greater regional autonomy over Catalonia’s frequently criticized rail infrastructure.

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The agreement, first reported by El Periódico and later confirmed by sources from the Comuns to news agencies Europa Press and ACN, comes amid a period of intense scrutiny for the Rodalies service, which has been plagued by delays, technical failures, and safety concerns, culminating in a fatal accident in Gelida earlier this year.

Under the terms of the pact, the Generalitat will gradually assume full management of the R1, R2 South, R3, R4 North, and R16 lines. The transfer process is set to begin this year with the R1 line, which serves the busy Maresme coast. The transition for the remaining four lines will be initiated concurrently. This includes responsibility for drafting projects and executing infrastructure works, tasks currently managed by Spain’s Ministry of Transport.

The transfer will be managed through the recently constituted mixed public company, Rodalies de Catalunya, SME SA. While Spanish state-owned operator Renfe Operadora holds a 50.1% majority stake, the Generalitat’s 49.9% share will grant it decisive control over the service’s management and strategic direction.

The Comuns conditioned their crucial support for the budget on securing these investments, demanding an infrastructural boost for trains in regions such as Camp de Tarragona, Terres de l’Ebre, the southern Costa Brava, Bages, and the Pyrenees.

Beyond the landmark rail transfer, the comprehensive agreement includes a raft of measures aimed at improving public transport and sustainable mobility across Catalonia. A €21 million fund will be allocated to reinforce the interurban bus network, addressing saturated lines and compensating for service gaps resulting from the ongoing Rodalies crisis. Improvements are planned for services in cities like Vilafranca, Sabadell, Terrassa, Mataró, Girona, and Lleida, with new routes connecting the Baix Llobregat region with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Other key points of the deal include:

  • Maintaining the 50% discount on public transport passes until 2028.
  • Advancing several tram projects, including TramCamp (Tarragona), the Bages tram, a line from Blanes to Lloret de Mar, and the Vallès tram connecting Terrassa, Sabadell, and the UAB.
  • Funding a feasibility study for a fourth railway tunnel in Barcelona, a critical project aimed at increasing system capacity and relieving pressure on the congested Barcelona Sants station.
  • Connecting the L1 and L3 metro lines between Trinitat Nova and Trinitat Vella.
  • Launching a plan to expand Catalonia’s network of bike lanes by 500 kilometers and decarbonize the interurban bus fleet.

The agreement is also set to increase the Generalitat’s budget for rental assistance, which will rise from the current €200 million to €300 million by 2026, according to Jéssica Albiach, president of the Comuns in the Catalan Parliament. This broad-based deal not only secures the passage of the government’s budget but also addresses long-standing demands for improved public services and greater regional control over essential infrastructure.

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