The Spanish and Catalan governments have agreed to advance the transfer of management of the R1 Rodalies line, but no timeline has been set, as commuters faced a fourth consecutive day of delays, as Larazon reported.
The Bilateral State-Generalitat Commission, meeting at the Palau de la Generalitat (the seat of the Catalan government) on Thursday 12th November, committed €1.148 billion for Rodalies and regional rail operations between 2025 and 2028. Of this, €928 million covers operating deficits for 2026 and 2027. The agreement includes legal and regulatory preparations for the R1 handover between Sagrera (Barcelona) and Maçanet-Massanes (Girona), but no implementation date.
Commuters faced disruptions all week: delays on Monday, a 24-hour drivers’ strike on Tuesday, general strike impacts on Wednesday, and Thursday’s delays exceeding one hour on the R1 due to overnight rain and ongoing operational issues, according to Renfe.
Renfe deployed 67 replacement buses during Tuesday’s strike and has arranged road-based shuttle services for affected lines. The Semaf drivers’ union has postponed a planned strike from Friday 13th November to Monday 23rd November but will maintain a 24-hour strike on Tuesday 17th November.
The commission also agreed on €75 million for rehabilitating the AP-2 and AP-7 motorways, to be carried out by the Catalan government in 2027, and established a new Bilateral Airport Body to involve Catalonia in strategic planning for Barcelona, Girona-Costa Brava, Reus and Sabadell airports.
ERC called the agreements insufficient, while Junts accused the government of using the meeting for electoral propaganda ahead of the 29th November general election. The Catalan Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, defended the talks as advancing self-government while maintaining institutional neutrality.
Sources: Larazon.
