A Major Power Outage Disrupts Public Transport In Barcelona
A significant power outage that affected the entire state of Spain caused widespread disruptions to public transportation in Barcelona on Monday, April 28, 2025. The outage, which began around noon, halted metro, tram, and Bicing services, leaving many commuters stranded.
The metro service began to gradually restart at approximately 4:15 PM, starting with Line 1 between Sagrera and Fondo. By 7:00 PM, Lines 5, 9N, and 10N were operational, and by 7:30 PM, Lines 9S and 10S had also resumed service. By 8:45 PM, 52% of the metro network was back in operation, which later increased to 80%. Lines 1, 3, 5, 9, and 10 were fully operational, while Line 4 was limited to the section between Passeig de Gràcia and Trinitat Nova, and Line 2 was only running between La Pau and Badalona Pompeu Fabra.
In addition to the metro, some lines of the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat (FGC) were functioning normally, including Lines 6 (Sarrià) and 7 (Av. Tibidabo), while Lines S1 and S2 operated between Catalunya and Sant Cugat. However, Line 12 was suspended.
Municipal authorities announced that the metro would continue to operate throughout the night to assist those stranded due to the outage. TMB, in collaboration with the Mossos d'Esquadra and Guàrdia Urbana, evacuated passengers from 24 trains that were stuck between stations during the blackout. Fortunately, TMB reported no personal injuries during the evacuation process, which was completed without major incidents.
All Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat lines ceased operations due to the outage, and while bus services continued, they experienced delays, leading to overcrowding at bus stops. The power failure also caused many traffic lights in Barcelona to stop functioning, complicating mobility across the city. The Mossos d'Esquadra and Guàrdia Urbana coordinated the evacuation of passengers from trapped trains, ensuring safety during the crisis.
As the situation unfolded, travelers who could not wait for buses or found no suitable connections opted to walk, resulting in an increase in foot traffic on major streets like Diagonal.
Meanwhile, Adif announced the complete interruption of train services throughout Catalonia. Train stations such as Sants and Plaça de Catalunya were left without power, and some were evacuated as a precaution. Renfe advised travelers against going to the stations unless they needed overnight shelter, which was available at Sants station. The company confirmed it would not provide alternative road transport due to the high volume of passengers, as Rodalies typically serves over 400,000 travelers daily. Furthermore, Renfe justified this decision by noting recommendations from traffic and civil protection authorities to avoid unnecessary travel.
Traffic congestion became a significant issue, with reports of up to 17 kilometers of queues on the B-10 northbound and B-11 southbound. The Catalan Traffic Service urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel, noting that while interurban roads were unaffected, access roads and the city’s ring roads experienced significant delays.
Incidents at the airport were also reported, with Aena stating that the power outage caused disruptions, although most operations continued using generators. Passengers were advised to check the status of their flights before leaving home, as delays and cancellations were noted since the early afternoon.
By Tuesday morning, April 29, 2025, Red Eléctrica Española reported that 92% of the electrical service had been restored, although specific data for Catalonia was still unavailable. The metro and FGC services returned to normal operation, but Rodalies remained entirely halted due to ongoing electrical instability.
Initially, a minimum service of 60% was announced for Rodalies, but this was suspended due to the instability in the electrical grid, preventing safe operations. Antonio Carmona, the director of Renfe in Catalonia, confirmed the complete suspension of Rodalies service for safety reasons, emphasizing that energy fluctuations could cause trains to stop mid-route, potentially stranding passengers.
Carmona could not provide a timeline for when service would resume, advising passengers to limit travel to essential journeys and seek alternative transportation options. While the high-speed AVE trains between Madrid and Barcelona were operating normally, services on the Mediterranean corridor and trains heading to the northern peninsula were still suspended.
Emergency services worked tirelessly throughout the night to evacuate stranded passengers from trains, with many individuals housed in municipal pavilions and town halls. Reports indicated that two AVE trains with 250 passengers were stranded in Camp de Tarragona, where provisions were made for food and blankets. Another train with 432 passengers was evacuated in Castellbisbal, and approximately 550 passengers were assisted in L'Albi.
As the crisis unfolded, the Generalitat deployed over 7,120 Mossos d'Esquadra to ensure public safety, especially in poorly lit areas. The authorities opened several sports pavilions near public transport stations to accommodate those stranded by the outage, providing shelter and assistance.
Despite the chaos, no significant security incidents were reported, and public behavior was praised by officials. Emergency services received an unprecedented volume of calls, responding to over 9,946 requests, double the normal rate. Firefighters conducted more than 500 operations in Barcelona alone, rescuing individuals trapped in elevators and trains.
As the situation continues to develop, the Generalitat aims to fully restore electricity gradually, hoping for a return to normalcy on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The president of the Generalitat expressed optimism about the recovery process while acknowledging the challenges faced by residents and travelers during this unprecedented outage.
