The Rodalies free service in Catalonia, initially introduced as a temporary one-month measure, will now continue indefinitely. The Catalan government confirmed this decision on Thursday. This announcement follows the discovery that the railway network’s condition is significantly worse than first feared.
Meanwhile, the region’s transport infrastructure has endured a tumultuous fortnight. This period included a fatal accident in Gelida, multiple landslides, and a critical failure at the Adif control centre.
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Rodalies free service: ‘A terrible operation’
Sílvia Paneque, the Minister of Territory, delivered a stark assessment during a joint parliamentary committee appearance. Describing the current state of the network as a “terrible operation”, Paneque confirmed that fare-free travel would remain in place “until the complete restoration of the system occurs”.
The crisis began on the night of Tuesday, 20 January. A trainee train driver was killed after his train collided with a slope that had collapsed from the AP-7 motorway onto the tracks. Consequently, the incident led to a total service shutdown for 48 hours. Further interruptions occurred throughout the subsequent weekend.
Recent inspections across the network have revealed more extensive infrastructure damage than initial assessments suggested. Therefore, the government now prioritises safety over regular operations.
“The Government prioritised avoiding risks and chose safety, even if it is a decision susceptible to criticism.”Sílvia Paneque, Minister of Territory
Political backlash over the Rodalies free service
The government’s handling of the crisis has drawn fierce criticism from across the political spectrum. During the committee hearing, opposition parties accused the executive of mismanagement. They specifically criticised the alternative mobility measures put in place during the service disruptions.
The Popular Party (PP), alongside Vox and Junts, demanded the resignation of both Paneque and the Spanish Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente. Judith Toronjo, spokesperson for Junts, accused the government of lacking self-criticism. She claimed officials were looking for “scapegoats” rather than assuming political responsibility.
Meanwhile, Comuns criticised the “mess” in communicating with passengers. In addition, the CUP questioned why so many risk points were only detected after a fatal accident. “Had no one inspected it before? Were users and workers being endangered?” asked deputy Dani Cornellà.
A call for unity on the Rodalies network
Defending her actions, Minister Paneque admitted that while she may have made “possible mistakes”, she had remained “at the foot of the cannon” throughout the chaos. She argued that the immediate crisis management was complex, and she could not “look the other way”.
Paneque also stressed that the structural issues facing Rodalies are historic. These problems span two decades of various administrations. She called for a “double reflection” from all parties regarding their shared responsibility over the last 20 years. Furthermore, she urged a message of unity to ensure the system is fixed permanently.
“I demanded that Adif and Renfe work tirelessly to secure the system,” Paneque stated. She reaffirmed that the Rodalies free service would not be lifted until passengers could be guaranteed a safe and fully functional network.
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