New delay in the arrival of the new Rodalies trains

BarcelonaFirst they said they would be ready in 2025. Then, in the summer of 2026 and later, at the beginning of 2027. Now, however, the schedule is delayed until the spring. The new trains that Alstom is manufacturing for Rodalies are taking a while to arrive. This was admitted this Thursday by the Secretary of State for Transport and Mobility, José Antonio Santano, in a talk at the Cercle d'Economia in Barcelona.

This new delay is in addition to other schedule problems related to the industrial process and last January's crisis, with Storm Harry. The purchase of these 110 trains –the largest ever made in the State– was described as "historic" by the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, and it was supposed that, when they arrived, these trains would become a great boost for the delicate state of the Catalan railway network.

Be that as it may, Santano made it clear this Thursday –before many business executives and personalities from the sector– that 2027 will be precisely "a very clear turning point" in Catalonia in terms of mobility, and not only because the new convoys will finally arrive. The secretary mentioned different planned milestones, such as the end of "important" works like those of Montcada Bifurcació and the double-tracking of the R3 or the commissioning of the R-Airport. However, he also defended that doses of "patience and understanding" will still be needed and assured that Rodalies is "a permanent concern" for the Spanish government.

The representative of the ministry also explained that the Spanish government expects to finish the year with the R1 "already transferred" to Catalonia. And he issued a warning: "This line will need a coastal protection plan, because it is from the 19th century, and it was built in a very beautiful place, but it is now a problem that must be addressed quickly," he said in relation to its proximity to the sea.

Regarding high-speed rail, Santano also said that the works on the Mediterranean corridor are progressing at a good pace: 83% of the work is finished, he assured, but an important part is missing: the change of track gauge between Castellón and Barcelona. This operation will begin after the summer and will require months of work. That is why, when asked about the final date of the work, the secretary said that he "believes" it will be possible to achieve it in 2027, but he has not ruled out that the schedule might move to 2028.

The Secretary of State was also unable to specify when the minutes lost on the Barcelona - Madrid corridor will be recovered following the speed restrictions imposed after the crisis last January. Santano admitted that the journey now takes about 30 minutes longer than before and explained that before speeding up the trains again, it is necessary to redo some sections of the track, especially in the Calatayud area.

20 million to replace the stolen cable

Another of the concerns that keeps the Spanish government on edge is cable theft on the network. Just a few weeks ago the increase in these crimes in Catalonia caused serious incidents on the network in a few days. "We are very worried –admitted Santano in a grave tone–. In total, about 70 kilometers of communication cable have been stolen from us, and this has meant almost 20 million in expenses to replace it," he detailed. In this regard, the secretary of state explained that they are in contact with the Generalitat to try to stop these acts, "as has already happened with the latest arrests," he concluded.