Regular passengers of Catalonia’s commuter rail network have gathered in Barcelona to demand a “radical change” in management. This Rodalies protest follows a dramatic decline in safety and reliability. The demonstration, centred at the Estació de França, represents a breaking point for thousands of daily users.

Convened by 22 different entities and supported by over 130 social associations, the protest calls for a service that is “dignified, safe and reliable”. The mobilisation follows weeks of operational chaos and a fatal accident in Gelida on 20 January. Organisers describe this as the final straw for a ridership that has expressed dissatisfaction for years.

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Rodalies protest Barcelona - Protest by Rodalies railway users demanding management changes due to service failures and

Home » Rodalies protest Barcelona: Commuters demand radical rail overhaul

Rodalies protest Barcelona: ‘Without trains there is no future’

Under the slogan Sense trens no hi ha futur (Without trains there is no future), protesters highlight the widening gap between government promises and reality. Authorities have suggested April as a target for restoring “normality”. However, commuters remain sceptical due to repeated missed deadlines and ongoing infrastructure failures across the Adif network.

The manifesto, signed by a broad coalition of civil society groups, emphasises that the train is “the backbone of mobility in Catalonia”. It is essential for social and territorial cohesion. The organisers argue that an unreliable network undermines equal opportunities for those who need to travel for work and study. Therefore, they urge the government to recover pending investments immediately to address “very important deficits”.

A collapse in confidence

Public trust in the service managed by Renfe is plummeting. According to the manifesto, Rodalies has the distinction of being the only public transport service currently losing users. Data released by the company indicates that the network recorded 110 million users in 2025. This figure represents a significant 6.3% drop compared to 2024. Consequently, many former passengers now opt for alternative transport methods to ensure they reach their destinations. Amid this crisis, free Rodalies travel has been extended indefinitely.

This sentiment is reflected in the latest public opinion survey by the Centre d’Estudis d’Opinió (CEO), published this Thursday. Citizens awarded Rodalies a failing grade of just 4.2 out of 10. This result highlights the depth of public frustration.

Staff walkouts imminent

The unrest is not limited to passengers. Railway staff share the safety concerns raised by the public. These concerns follow recent fatalities in Gelida and a separate incident in Adamuz, Córdoba, which claimed 46 lives. In response to these safety issues, workers operating the service have announced a nationwide strike.

The industrial action is scheduled to begin on Monday, 9 February, and will continue until Wednesday, 11 February. Unions demand immediate improvements to the security and quality of the railway service. Their demands mirror those made by the crowds at Estació de França this weekend.

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