On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the railway circulation managed by Renfe and Adif faced significant challenges, leaving many passengers frustrated and stranded. While the metro, TRAM, and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) services returned to normal, the Rodalies, medium and long-distance, and high-speed services resumed only gradually. In fact, some trains did not operate until mid-afternoon, leading to large crowds at Sants station, where some travelers had even spent the night after being left without trains the day before.
The chaos began early Tuesday morning when Renfe decided to halt all train services at 6:30 AM due to unstable electrical grid voltage. This decision was made to ensure passenger safety, as the potential for trains to become stranded was too high. Antonio Carmona, the director of Rodalies, explained, "It was suspended for safety reasons," highlighting the need for a thorough assessment of the network's stability before resuming services.
Initially, Renfe had aimed to start with a minimum service for Rodalies, but as the morning progressed, it became clear that safety could not be guaranteed. By mid-morning, however, partial recovery was announced for several lines, including R1, R2, R2 Sud, R2 Nord, R3, R4, and R11. The R16 line was added to the list of operational services around 4:15 PM.
Despite these efforts, the situation remained precarious. Renfe advised passengers to seek alternative transportation methods, as delays were expected and services were limited. The first trains began operating on the R1 line between Molins de Rei and Maçanet Massanes, while the R2 Sud saw trains running between Estació de França and Cunit, though they did not reach Sant Vicenç. For this segment, road transport was arranged as an alternative.
At Sants station, the impact of the disruptions was palpable. According to the Minister of the Interior, around 1,000 people were waiting for high-speed trains on Tuesday morning, with many facing delays of nearly two hours. AVE trains to Andalusia resumed service around 4 PM, but the overall situation remained chaotic, with long lines and frustrated passengers.
Many users turned to bus services as a viable alternative. At the bus station in Vilanova i la Geltrú, passengers sought information on which lines could take them closer to their workplaces or schools amidst widespread confusion. Anabel, a local resident, expressed her frustration, stating, "This situation over the past two days is just another disaster."
Meanwhile, the FGC services had returned to normal by Tuesday morning, with operations fully restored on the Barcelona – Vallès line by 11:15 PM the previous night. This contrasted sharply with the ongoing issues faced by Rodalies, where many users were left without mobility options.
As the day progressed, the situation at Sants station began to improve, but not without significant delays and confusion. Passengers were advised to remain patient as staff worked to manage the heavy influx of travelers. The Red Cross set up tents outside the station to provide food and water to those still waiting to depart.
In the aftermath of the electrical outage that caused the disruptions, which affected an estimated 200,000 people, Renfe and local authorities worked tirelessly to restore services. Carmona acknowledged the complexity of the Rodalies network compared to the metro and FGC lines, explaining that this complexity contributed to the slower recovery.
Looking ahead, Renfe aimed to fully restore normal service by Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Carmona assured passengers that the company was doing everything possible to resume regular operations. He stated, "We are working throughout the night to ensure that the service is as normal as possible tomorrow."
Despite the challenges, the resilience of the transportation system was evident as crews worked around the clock to address the issues. As the sun set on Tuesday, the hope remained that the disruptions would soon be a distant memory, allowing passengers to return to their daily routines without further incident.
In conclusion, while the chaos experienced on April 29 served as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the transportation infrastructure, the efforts of the authorities to restore services and provide support to affected passengers were commendable. As the situation continues to evolve, many will be watching closely to see how effectively Renfe can ensure a return to normalcy.
