Rodalies passenger numbers have hit their lowest point of the year, with the Barcelona commuter rail network losing 1.1 million users in November alone.
According to the latest monthly punctuality report from operator Renfe, the system recorded just 8.2 million passengers last month.
The figures show a worrying trend.
November saw 18,371 scheduled trains, the lowest number outside of August. But fewer services didn’t mean better performance.
Rodalies Passenger Numbers Show Steady Decline This November slump caps a difficult year. Rodalies is now on track to finish 2025 with around 110 million passengers.
The decline started last year when the network first lost 2.6 million passengers. The post-pandemic recovery in passenger numbers stalled completely from May 2024 onwards.
First came the cable theft at Montcada Bifurcació, which affected services for over a month. Then major engineering works began, including the Roda de Berà tunnel project and Mediterranean Corridor upgrades between Castellbisbal and Molins de Rei.
The trend has only intensified in 2025. More recent problems include a week-long suspension between Gavà and Sitges in September for works at Castelldefels station.
Renfe reports losing about 20% of regular users on that line. The R1, R2, and R4 lines have also experienced numerous incidents.
Works on the Mediterranean Corridor have caused significant disruption, particularly where freight and passenger trains must share tracks.
Fleeing Passengers Turn To Buses Many former train users have switched to buses, according to Generalitat officials. Bus corridors are now growing at a rate of 25%.
This has led to saturation on numerous bus lines, some of which mirror train routes. The regional government has launched an emergency plan to reinforce interurban and express bus services.
Renfe has introduced one improvement in response to passenger complaints about poor information. They’ve launched a real-time train tracking website at tiempo-real.renfe.com.
New trains are also due to start arriving early next year at a rate of two or three per month. This should help replace the network’s very old rolling stock, which has been a persistent source of problems.
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