Hundreds of commuters were stranded on 12 December after an early-morning catenary fault forced the suspension of Rodalies lines R2, R2 Nord, R8 and R11 between Mollet Sant Fost and Granollers Centre. The incident, which began at 06:29, damaged both the overhead wiring and the pantograph of a stationary train near Montmeló station.
Infrastructure manager Adif and operator Renfe dispatched technicians and announced that repairs could take several hours. Replacement buses were arranged, but road traffic around the AP-7 corridor quickly became congested. Renfe advised passengers to seek alternative routes—including the Barcelona metro and inter-urban buses—while Cercanías services south of Montcada continued to run with delays.
![Catenary Failure Halts Four Rodalies Lines, Disrupting Morning Commute in Catalonia]()
Passengers who find themselves needing to rebook international flights or secure emergency travel documents can take advantage of VisaHQ’s digital visa and passport solutions. The service’s Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) connects travelers to live specialists who can fast-track applications and navigate last-minute entry requirements, ensuring onward journeys remain on schedule despite local transport disruptions.
The breakdown is the latest in a series of infrastructure mishaps that have plagued the Barcelona commuter network and fuelled calls for faster investment in ageing electrification systems. Business travellers heading to Barcelona-El Prat airport were urged to add extra time, while multinational firms in the Vallès technology park activated remote-work protocols.
Catalan authorities reiterated plans to transfer Rodalies management from Madrid to the regional government in 2026, arguing that local control would accelerate upgrades. Until then, global mobility managers with staff based in Catalonia may wish to review contingency plans for repeated rail outages during winter storms, when overhead lines are most vulnerable.
Infrastructure manager Adif and operator Renfe dispatched technicians and announced that repairs could take several hours. Replacement buses were arranged, but road traffic around the AP-7 corridor quickly became congested. Renfe advised passengers to seek alternative routes—including the Barcelona metro and inter-urban buses—while Cercanías services south of Montcada continued to run with delays.
Passengers who find themselves needing to rebook international flights or secure emergency travel documents can take advantage of VisaHQ’s digital visa and passport solutions. The service’s Spain portal (https://www.visahq.com/spain/) connects travelers to live specialists who can fast-track applications and navigate last-minute entry requirements, ensuring onward journeys remain on schedule despite local transport disruptions.
The breakdown is the latest in a series of infrastructure mishaps that have plagued the Barcelona commuter network and fuelled calls for faster investment in ageing electrification systems. Business travellers heading to Barcelona-El Prat airport were urged to add extra time, while multinational firms in the Vallès technology park activated remote-work protocols.
Catalan authorities reiterated plans to transfer Rodalies management from Madrid to the regional government in 2026, arguing that local control would accelerate upgrades. Until then, global mobility managers with staff based in Catalonia may wish to review contingency plans for repeated rail outages during winter storms, when overhead lines are most vulnerable.
