Barcelona is set to benefit from faster rail links after the Catalan Parliament backed new semi-direct train services on the R16 and R15 lines. The motion calls for two semi-direct trains in each direction on the R16 between Tarragona and Barcelona, with no intermediate stops, and a maximum deadline of six months.
The proposal, put forward by Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), passed with broad support. Only the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC) abstained. It also asks the regional government to negotiate with the Spanish Government so Euromed long-distance and high-speed services stop again at l'Aldea station in Tarragona, with at least two stops per direction within six months.
On the R15 line, the Parliament wants at least one daily semi-direct train in each direction between Terres de l'Ebre and Barcelona, with no stops after Tarragona. The target is to cut journey times before the end of the first quarter of 2027. For readers following rail policy in the city, see our Transport coverage and Community updates.
A separate motion from the Comuns also passed. It asks the Generalitat to commission a study on extending rail service between Barcelona's Sant Andreu district and El Prat Airport, with Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) as the operator. The government aims to include the plan in its official programme before 2030.
The same motion also urges the Catalan Government to press Adif to adapt the new access branch to El Prat Airport. According to the article, the current design means not all Rodalies train series can run because of fire safety rules. The changes are part of a wider push to improve rail infrastructure across Catalonia, with Barcelona at the centre of the network.
Originally published by Europa Press Barcelona. Read original article.
