Barcelona's L2 metro line has been experiencing significant delays and overcrowding for at least two days due to a track incident affecting the stretch between Artigues | Sant Adrià and Sant Roc stations. Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has reduced train speeds to 15 kilometres per hour for safety reasons, severely impacting service frequency and leaving commuters frustrated.
During peak hours, train services dropped to 14 trains compared to the usual 20, according to reporting by El Periódico. This reduction has angered regular users, particularly residents of Badalona who rely on the line for connections to central Barcelona. Confidence in rail transport has been further eroded by concurrent delays on the Rodalies R1 line, which experienced over 10 minutes of additional wait times due to an infrastructure incident between El Clot and Sant Adrià de Besòs.
If we Badalona residents have become accustomed to having no hope of traveling on the R1 to get to work, now we can't even rely on the L2 metro,
said a passenger on social media, echoing widespread frustration.
Passengers have reported overcrowding at stations, with access managed in batches during rush hours. Many also criticised the lack of timely information, especially during early morning hours when commuters depend on the service for work and education. On Tuesday, service was completely suspended between Pep Ventura and Badalona Pompeu Fabra stations from early afternoon, with TMB advising passengers to use alternative transport options.
Union Calls for Swift Action
The metro staff union CPTC has called for urgent measures to resolve the issue, suggesting a partial service interruption to allow for essential repair work. The union argues that the current slowdowns highlight the need for immediate intervention to restore reliable service.
While some passengers speculate that the problems may be linked to heavy rainfall earlier in October, TMB has denied any connection between the weather and the current breakdown. TMB is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and restore normal train frequencies across the affected section of the line.
What This Means for Commuters
Commuters using the L2 between La Pau and Badalona Pompeu Fabra should expect ongoing delays and consider alternative routes. Real-time service updates are available via the TMB website and the Moovit app. Passengers affected by disruptions can request official incident justifications through the TMB customer service portal for potential compensation claims.
Sources: El Periódico, TMB.
