First day of commuter rail works in Garraf: "I've already gotten used to the bus"

BarcelonaResignation is the prevailing feeling on the first day of the launch of the alternative services. railway maintenance works in the Garraf tunnelsEarly Monday morning, Adif began work to improve this infrastructure, which is badly damaged by marine corrosion. This also meant it was the first day of the alternative road plan, using buses, organized by Renfe to mitigate the effects and ensure mobility for its customers. However, many users say they have long been accustomed to the bus due to the constant disruptions and construction, especially on this section of the rail network. Therefore, today's work didn't "surprise" them. Others lament the fact that the new system will force them to get up earlier or reorganize their workday. This is the case for Andy, who commutes to Barcelona every day and now says he will have to get up 40 minutes earlier. "The train is never good, I've gotten used to the bus," explained Cesc Lacalle, a student, in statements to ACN. Yolanda, another traveler, explains the same thing: for months she's preferred to leave "with more time" but with the option of arriving on time, she says. Selena, who says she usually travels by bus for convenience, considered this morning, during rush hour, that the increased service is "a great solution, as far as possible."

An alternative plan criticized

The works are causing adjustments to the R2 South line's train frequencies and the activation of an alternative bus plan—developed by the Catalan government, the service operator, and Renfe—which users and local mayors have been viewing with suspicion for days. The Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, said last week that she considers the plan "adequate," but does not rule out making changes if the situation requires it. The works are leaving only eight trains per hour in each direction between Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat; six between Barcelona and Castelldefels; four between Barcelona and Garraf; and two between Barcelona and Sant Vicenç de Calders. As for the southern Regional services, the regular train service between Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat is maintained. In parallel, the alternative plan includes reinforcing several intercity bus lines that coincide with the affected rail corridor. In total, the service increases by approximately 14,400 additional seats, especially on connections between Barcelona and municipalities in the Garraf and Baix Penedès regions, such as Sitges, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Cubelles, and Calafell. This morning, the mayor of Sitges, Aurora Carbonell, visited the site to see how the new system was working and believes that the 50% reduction in trains, with two trains per hour in each direction instead of the usual four, could cause a collapse of the bus routes connecting to Barcelona. For this reason, she has requested a direct bus line from Sitges to Barcelona (the current one runs from Roquetes, in Sant Pere de Ribes), demanded that Renfe's timetables be reliable, and reiterated her call for the removal of the Vallcarca toll while the service disruptions last. According to the mayor, the announced increase is positive but insufficient if it is not adjusted to the actual needs identified on a daily basis.

The Dignity on the Tracks user platform has called the alternative plan an "office plan." Its spokesperson, Anna Gómez, criticized the fact that the timetables are not adjusted to passengers' needs. "They've thrown out timetables with transfers of two or three minutes, which are impossible," she asserted.

The administration defends the plan

According to Renfe spokesperson in Catalonia, Antonio Carmona, the plan has been implemented without any significant incidents. Carmona explained that they have tried to carry out a "very important" job of providing information and implementing preventative measures. "The first few hours of this alternative plan are proceeding relatively normally; the buses are running on schedule," he assured. He added that the bus alternative is the "best travel option for passengers." For her part, the Director General of Transport and Mobility for the Catalan Government, Susi López, gave a positive assessment of the first few hours of the Alternative Transport Plan's implementation and stated that they are open to making any necessary changes to better adjust the service. "We will certainly try to improve anything that can be improved in the coming days, and if possible, today," López affirmed.