The railway infrastructure manager Adif announced on Thursday afternoon that it is raising the temporary Rodalies speed limit to 100 km/h. This decision follows the gradual subsiding of the severe winds from Storm Nils that disrupted Barcelona’s transport network, which had previously forced a restrictive 80 km/h cap across the Barcelona commuter rail system.
While the worst of the gale-force winds has passed, allowing trains to travel faster, the network remains far from normal. However, Adif has warned that service is still heavily disrupted, with complex circulation issues affecting the majority of key routes.
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Rodalies speed limit increase amid continued delays
Despite the improved Rodalies speed limit, passengers are facing average delays of 30 minutes. Some sections are experiencing longer waits due to accumulated incidents throughout the day. Therefore, Adif has identified eight specific lines where circulation remains difficult:
- R1
- R2, R2 Sud, and R2 Nord
- R3
- R4
- R7
- R8
Station closures and bus replacements
The physical impact of the storm on infrastructure has forced the closure of three key stations. These closures are due to safety concerns or structural damage. The affected stations are Malgrat de Mar, Premià de Mar, and Barberà del Vallès.
In these locations, as well as other sections where fallen trees or debris prevent train passage, operators have established alternative road transport services. Consequently, buses are currently bridging the gaps where the rail network is impassable.
Emergency phase lifted
The operational update arrived shortly after the Generalitat of Catalonia deactivated the emergency phase and lifted general mobility restrictions. Although the government has withdrawn the prohibition on travel, officials continue to urge extreme caution. This caution is particularly important for outdoor infrastructure such as station platforms.
Full recovery of the service depends on ongoing cleanup operations. Additionally, it requires the repair of overhead cables (catenaries) damaged by wind gusts that exceeded 100 km/h along the Barcelona coast. Meanwhile, the disruption compounds existing frustrations with the network. The network has been under scrutiny following the recent announcement of a dedicated Adif team to manage Rodalies infrastructure until transfer.
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