Commuter trains will resume service tomorrow, Thursday, but the Catalan government anticipates a "complicated" restart.

Barcelona / GelidaCommuter and regional trains will resume service tomorrow, Thursday, starting at 6:00 AM, after technicians ensured the safety of the rail network with a thorough inspection of every line. Service will not be fully restored, as the section between Martorell and Vilafranca del Penedès, affected by the R4 train accident in Gelida, will remain closed to traffic in both directions until further notice. Passengers will have to travel this route by bus. Despite the resumption of service, both the Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, and the Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, have warned passengers that "it will not be an easy day," as delays and cancellations are common after a 24-hour closure, and due to the evident frustration among passengers regarding the upcoming February 9th, 10th, and 11th. In fact, the workers demanded Wednesday night that Adif guarantee the safety of the infrastructure in writing as a condition for resuming service at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday. Sources from the Semaf union, cited by ACN, indicate that they are continuing talks with the authorities and do not rule out the possibility of another meeting to continue discussions. However, sources from the Department of Territory attribute the union's intentions to a labor issue that they maintain should be resolved with Renfe. In a joint appearance after the meeting of the Operational Coordination Center (CECAT), Paneque and Dalmau were quick to explain that the resumption of service, like the decision to suspend traffic following the accident, was carried out according to the safety "criteria" of the technicians. Just hours after the Gelida accident, Adif specialists began inspecting the condition of all lines on the commuter and regional rail network to assess their safety. In some sections, a second inspection was carried out in daylight "to ensure the infrastructure is in good condition," the regional minister explained. Finally, reports from the railway management company have "confirmed" that there are no risks to reopening the service. To minimize the chaos and misinformation that prevailed during Wednesday's train cancellations, Paneque indicated that Renfe has been asked to provide additional passenger information staff, who will be deployed throughout the network's stations. Furthermore, the Department of Territory will increase the frequency of FGC lines and has asked bus companies to operate charter routes to supplement their regular service and accommodate the likely increase in passengers who, out of necessity or fear of train disruptions, may prefer road travel. In fact, fares had already increased by 10% on the busiest routes, although this hasn't stopped complaints from users, who are used to technical problems and a lack of warnings.

Tension among train drivers

Following the two fatal accidents in less than 48 hours, in Adamuz and HelidaThe railway sector—especially among train drivers—is not hiding its tension and unease regarding the service's operation. This Wednesday afternoon, union representatives from Renfe (Semaf, UGT, and CCOO) and company management met at Sants station to "listen to each other." Following the meeting, the company announced that Cercanías (commuter rail) is prepared and intends to resume service this Thursday, but that at this time they cannot guarantee that the service will operate "normally" due to "the position held by the train drivers." In a statement released after the meeting, Renfe explained that the drivers conveyed their view that the runs with empty trains to test the network's safety following the accident in Gelida, in which a trainee driver died, were "insufficient."

Furthermore, Adif informed the Catalan Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, this afternoon that all commuter rail lines are now operational except for the R4 between Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and Martorell and a section of the R11 between Caldes and Girona. However, Renfe admits that train drivers have asked Adif for a "response" and for infrastructure improvement measures to begin "immediately." "Renfe supports this request from the unions and is committed to mobilizing more resources and taking action to introduce corrective measures," the company stated.

Representatives from all the unions, Renfe's president, Álvaro Fernández Heredia, the Director General of Passenger Services, Miguel Ángel Vicente, and the Director of Operations in Catalonia, Josep Enric García Alemany, participated in the meeting. Before the meeting, hundreds of workers gathered in the station lobby and observed a minute of silence in memory of the trainee who lost his life.

"Who can guarantee it won't happen to me tomorrow?"

"When we asked them, 'What do you plan to do?' they couldn't answer. So, what are we supposed to do?" Francisco Cárdenas, a UGT union representative and train driver for 40 years, says Renfe hasn't offered any answers. "We've proposed concrete things, like implementing the same safety drills on commuter trains that are already carried out on high-speed trains before starting any service," he explains. "We're a public service and we have to guarantee it, but right now we're not sure we can guarantee it safely, neither for the workers nor for all the passengers we transport daily," he points out. Cárdenas explains that the sector is "on shaky ground." "We see it getting closer and closer, and we're all thinking it could happen anywhere, to any of us. Who can guarantee it won't happen to me tomorrow?" he reflects. This train driver and union member admits that guaranteeing improvements to the network is expensive, but he demands at least a roadmap for improvement. "If we don't see anything, no change, the worry continues," he argues, maintaining that train drivers have been reporting problems at various points for years and feel they aren't being heard. "Where have we ended up? This can't be!" he exclaims.

Pau Mercè, coordinator of the railway sector in Catalonia for CCOO, agrees that "the deaths weigh heavily" and that there is a "feeling of insecurity." Asked what will happen when service resumes, both workers agree: "There could be a shortage of train drivers," they admit.

Semaf calls a strike

At this point, the union taking the strongest stance is Semaf, the largest union in Spain. This afternoon they called a three-day strike for February 9, 10, and 11. This call comes even before the general works council meetings scheduled for tomorrow at noon in Madrid. "Any decision regarding the strikes and whether or not we join them will come from here," explains Mercè. "It's not a matter of labor rights, it's a matter of safety: ours and the passengers'," Cárdenas adds.

Earlier this morning, Semaf described the situation as "unacceptable" and criticized the constant deterioration of the rail service. They also asserted that they will demand "criminal accountability for those responsible for ensuring the safety of the railway infrastructure" for the accidents yesterday and Sunday. This powerful union was already calling on Tuesday night for trains not to run until there are "sufficient guarantees" of safety. They even went so far as to issue a warning to train drivers not to resume service upon arrival at stations.

The Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, stated this afternoon that he "understands" the train drivers' state of mind and "respects" it. In any case, he indicated that he "does not agree" that a general strike is the best way to work towards finding a solution to the problems the drivers are denouncing. In this regard, he expressed his conviction that they will reach an agreement so that "the strike is called off." "I am going to sit down with the unions and we will try to address their demands without harming the railway system," the minister concluded. Núria Rius reports from Madrid.