Adif, Spain’s railway infrastructure manager, has authorised Rodalies to begin trial runs on the R2 and R11 commuter rail lines after completing work to restore land affected by a sinkhole at the Montcada undergrounding project.

For passengers, the trials do not yet mean a return to normal services. The R2, which links Barcelona with destinations including the airport and the south of the metropolitan area, and the R11, which runs towards Girona and the French border, remain subject to checks before regular trains can restart.

The announcement was made on Saturday 25 July. Catalonia’s Minister for Territory, Sílvia Paneque, said she expected R2 and R11 train movements to resume during the following week.

Ground work completed after sinkhole

According to Adif’s announcement reported by Europa Press, the infrastructure manager has completed the work to restore the affected ground and has given Rodalies approval to start test operations.

The sinkhole opened during works to place the railway underground through Montcada i Reixac, beside Barcelona’s Vallbona neighbourhood. Adif said the hole was about 17 metres deep and 19 metres across, although the cause remained under investigation.

Adif technicians were examining why part of a wall at the construction shaft collapsed and safety supports gave way. The company had not identified a confirmed cause.

What commuters should do

  • R2 and R11 passengers should not assume that trial runs amount to restored passenger services.
  • Commuters should check Rodalies operating information before travelling until a timetable for regular services is confirmed.
  • The expected return date cited by Minister Sílvia Paneque was the week following 25 July, rather than a confirmed day or time.

The incident also interrupted the R2 Nord service, according to reporting on the disruption, while work continued at the Montcada site.

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