Commuters on Barcelona's L2 metro line are enduring daily chaos after the closure of the route between La Pau and Gorg stations, with replacement shuttle buses overwhelmed by demand. The disruption, which began on Monday 2nd November 2026 and is set to last until Thursday 3rd December, affects around 25,000 passengers each day, according to Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB).

The closure was implemented to repair a crack in the tunnel slab caused by rising groundwater pressure following heavy rains in early October. TMB CEO Xavier Flores confirmed the structural fault was detected after inspection, requiring urgent cement injection to stabilise the invert and renew the track foundation. Initially, speed restrictions of 15 km/h and disabled switches reduced service frequency, but full closure was deemed necessary for faster, safer repairs.

We're packed like sardines. All that's missing are the pushers like in Japan.

This is how one Sant Adrià de Besòs resident described the conditions on the shuttle buses, which are meant to run every 3 to 5 minutes on weekdays. Passengers report that buses frequently cannot close their doors due to overcrowding, despite being articulated or double-decker models. Carlos M., a daily commuter from Badalona, said: "Yesterday I had to let three buses go by at La Pau because it was literally impossible to get a foot inside."

Chronic Delays and Traffic Jams

The bottleneck extends beyond the buses. At La Pau station, long queues form during peak hours, and overcrowded metro connections further delay journeys. Teacher Núria, who commutes from Gorg, said: "You leave 45 minutes early thinking you have plenty of time and still end up being late. It's maddening."

Traffic congestion has also worsened on Carrer de Joan XXIII near the Artigues | Sant Adrià stop, where large buses struggle with tight turns, blocking intersections and causing multi-kilometre jams, particularly from 6:00 PM onwards. A local shopkeeper described the scene as "absolute chaos" with prolonged honking and gridlock.

Alternative Routes and Advice

TMB has implemented a shuttle bus service stopping near the affected stations, Verneda, Artigues | Sant Adrià, and Sant Roc, with no need to validate tickets. The shuttles follow the original metro timetable. Passengers are also advised to use alternative routes such as the H10 bus line, L10 Nord metro, L1 or L5 connections at Clot, or Rodalies R1 trains between Clot and Badalona Pompeu Fabra.

Travel planning tool Vull Anar provides updated journey alternatives, and information campaigns are active across stations with staff distributing leaflets and answering queries. Normal service is expected to resume by Friday 4th December 2026 at 5:00 AM.

What it means for you

  • When: From Monday 2nd November until the end of service on Thursday 3rd December 2026.
  • Where: On metro L2 between La Pau and Gorg stations, including Verneda, Artigues | Sant Adrià and Sant Roc.
  • Who is affected: Around 25,000 passengers daily.
  • What to do: Use shuttle buses between La Pau and Gorg with no need to validate your ticket.

Sources: Metrópoli, TMB, Ara, plainspain.com.