Investment Framework to Be Finalised Tuesday
On Tuesday 27 October 2026, the Renfe Board of Directors will approve a new contract-programme to safeguard investments in the Rodalies de Catalunya commuter rail network. The agreement, confirmed by Transport Minister Óscar Puente during a press conference on Thursday 22 October, will formalise the incorporation of new Alstom trains scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2027. This step ensures continuity in service improvements ahead of the planned transfer of R1 line management to the Generalitat. The contract will also be ratified by the Consell Executiu of the Catalan government next week, clarifying the rights and obligations between Renfe as operator and the Generalitat as service owner.
Transfer of R1 Line on Track Despite Election
The transfer of the R1 line, which runs from Bifurcación-Sagrera to Maçanet-Massanes through the Maresme region, remains a key objective for both administrations. While no exact handover date has been set, Puente reaffirmed the Spanish government’s “irrevocable” commitment to completing the process, despite the upcoming general election on 29 November 2026. Salvador Illa, President of the Generalitat, stressed that the electoral call does not alter existing agreements. However, administrative steps remain: the transfer must be approved by the Council of Ministers, the Joint Commission for Economic and Fiscal Affairs (CMAEF), and the Bilateral Infrastructure Commission.
We are committed to moving forward, regardless of the electoral calendar, said Minister Puente.
The new framework clears the way for Renfe to continue operating Rodalies services under defined terms while paving the path for the future mixed company, Rodalies de Catalunya, in which both the Spanish state and the Generalitat will hold shares.
Leaders Inspect La Sagrera Station Progress
Following the meeting at the Palau de la Generalitat, Puente and Illa visited the ongoing construction works at the future La Sagrera transport hub. The site visit echoed Puente’s previous inspection on 9 April 2026, underscoring the project’s strategic importance to regional and national rail connectivity. Attendees at the meeting included Álvaro Fernández, President of Renfe; Luis Pedro Marco, President of ADIF; Sílvia Paneque, Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition; Òscar Playà, CEO of Rodalies de Catalunya; and Javier Villamayor, Government Secretary.
Sources: El Nacional.
