New figures reveal a significant decline in Rodalies Barcelona ridership. The commuter rail network has lost more than 10 million passengers over the last two years. Consequently, this sharp 8.4% drop is attributed to extensive engineering works and service disruptions.
In stark contrast, Madrid’s Cercanías network has seen substantial growth. It gained over 15 million users in the same period. Therefore, the diverging fortunes of Spain’s two largest urban rail systems highlight the severe impact of ongoing infrastructure upgrades in the Catalan capital.
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Rodalies Barcelona Ridership: A Tale of Two Cities
According to the latest 2025 data, Barcelona’s Rodalies service ended the year with 110 million passengers. This represents a fall of almost 7.5 million, or 6.3%, compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, this continues a downward trend, culminating in the cumulative 10 million passenger loss since 2023.
Madrid’s Cercanías network, however, recorded 245.4 million passengers in 2025. This is an increase of 7.7% over the two-year period. Although Madrid’s service has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, its consistent growth opposes Barcelona’s decline. These figures coincide with the government’s introduction of a new national public transport pass to encourage rail travel.
Engineering Works and Poor Reliability Drive Ridership Decline
The fall in Rodalies Barcelona ridership coincides with intense infrastructure projects. Major works, including track duplication on the R3 line and adaptations for the Mediterranean Corridor, have led to prolonged service suspensions. Additionally, station upgrades in Castelldefels and Sant Feliu de Llobregat have caused line closures.
Unplanned incidents have exacerbated the situation. For example, a major copper theft in May 2024 caused five weeks of chaos on three key lines. Similarly, vandalism and breakdowns on an ageing train fleet have added to commuter frustrations. This contrasts with efforts elsewhere, such as the major investment in new Barcelona metro trains.
The impact on service quality is clear from performance metrics. In December 2025, the average delay for a late train in Barcelona was 21 minutes. This is significantly higher than Madrid’s 12.4 minutes. Furthermore, 3.5% of scheduled Rodalies services were cancelled in December, compared to just 0.5% in Madrid.
Authorities Hope for Future Ridership Improvements
The disruption faced by passengers is also reflected in official surveys. The annual Weekday Mobility Survey (EMEF) previously highlighted that two in three Rodalies users experience incidents. Consequently, many opt for alternative transport. This shift is supported by recent data showing record passenger numbers on Barcelona’s metro and bus networks.
Despite the challenging period, operators Renfe and Adif, along with the regional government, are hopeful. They state the current disruption is a necessary consequence of long-overdue modernisation. As major engineering projects finish and new, reliable trains are introduced, authorities expect a recovery in both service quality and passenger confidence. For more context on national transport trends, see the Spanish National Statistics Institute.
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