All services on the R3 Rodalies commuter rail line were suspended on Saturday 25 July after an incident affected the system used to regulate railway traffic. Adif, Spain's rail infrastructure manager, said trains had to stop because operating the line was unsafe.

The suspension affects passengers travelling between Barcelona, Granollers, Vic, Ripoll and Puigcerdà. Renfe, the train operator, has directed R3 users to the R4 between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Fabra i Puig or Montcada Bifurcació, while replacement road transport is running from Fabra i Puig to Puigcerdà-La Tor de Querol.

Before Saturday's fault, rail services on the R3 were already limited to the La Garriga to Puigcerdà section because of ongoing works, according to Renfe.

Alternatives for R3 passengers

  • Use the R4 between L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Fabra i Puig or Montcada Bifurcació.
  • Use the replacement road service between Fabra i Puig and Puigcerdà-La Tor de Querol.
  • Check live updates through the Rodalies de Catalunya service page before travelling.

R2 Nord reopening expected next week

The R2 Nord remains partly disrupted after a sinkhole appeared on Wednesday during works to put the railway underground in Montcada. The line links Barcelona Airport with Maçanet-Massanes via Barcelona and the Vallès Oriental.

Sílvia Paneque, Catalonia's Territori minister, said on Sunday that initial assessments of the affected infrastructure were positive, but that Adif must first confirm it can be used safely. She said empty test trains, known as marches blanches, would run before passengers return.

“The first impressions are good, and we are waiting for Adif to confirm when the infrastructure can be used safely,” Paneque said.

Paneque said the affected R2 Nord service is expected to resume next week, after the test runs.

Primary sources: rodalies.gencat.cat. Reported by Source Text Link, Alfonso L. Congostrina, naciodigital.cat, russpain.com, beteve.cat, Pere Roca Soler, Ketty Calatayud, vilaweb.cat, ACN, Pau Lizana Manuel,Gisela Macedo, David León Himelfarb, Diari Catalunya.