Commuters across Catalonia returned to a patchy rail network on Monday after Renfe restarted services crippled by storm damage and emergency track works—but with some 200 sections still under 30 km/h speed restrictions. El País reports that the R1, R2 and R4 lines now run on skeleton timetables, while the R3 and R8 remain partially replaced by bus bridges. Government and regional officials say most limitations will disappear by late February, although a full return to normal is not expected until April.
The disruption began in early February when heavy rainfall triggered landslides and exposed structural weaknesses on ageing infrastructure managed by track operator Adif. To carry out overnight repairs, authorities have also ordered the last high-speed Madrid–Barcelona trains to depart two hours earlier, prompting airlines to cap shuttle fares and, briefly, add extra flights.
![Renfe Restores Catalonia Commuter Trains—but 200 Slow-Speed Zones Keep Service Limping]()
If you’re an overseas traveler juggling contingency plans while the rail network recovers, VisaHQ can at least remove one headache by streamlining your visa paperwork for Spain—whether you need a standard Schengen visa, a multiple-entry business permit or a last-minute extension. Their step-by-step online process and real-time status tracking at https://www.visahq.com/spain/ mean less time wrestling with forms and more time adapting your itinerary.
For businesses the impact is tangible: Barcelona’s technology corridor reported absenteeism above 15 percent last week, while courier firms have added surcharges for time-critical deliveries between the capital and the Pyrenees. Multinationals with commuter allowances are arranging charter buses and encouraging remote work.
Renfe is publishing daily line-by-line updates, but HR teams should advise staff to verify connections each morning and expect longer door-to-door times. Travellers connecting to international flights at Barcelona-El Prat may need to budget an extra hour until the speed caps are lifted.
The disruption began in early February when heavy rainfall triggered landslides and exposed structural weaknesses on ageing infrastructure managed by track operator Adif. To carry out overnight repairs, authorities have also ordered the last high-speed Madrid–Barcelona trains to depart two hours earlier, prompting airlines to cap shuttle fares and, briefly, add extra flights.
If you’re an overseas traveler juggling contingency plans while the rail network recovers, VisaHQ can at least remove one headache by streamlining your visa paperwork for Spain—whether you need a standard Schengen visa, a multiple-entry business permit or a last-minute extension. Their step-by-step online process and real-time status tracking at https://www.visahq.com/spain/ mean less time wrestling with forms and more time adapting your itinerary.
For businesses the impact is tangible: Barcelona’s technology corridor reported absenteeism above 15 percent last week, while courier firms have added surcharges for time-critical deliveries between the capital and the Pyrenees. Multinationals with commuter allowances are arranging charter buses and encouraging remote work.
Renfe is publishing daily line-by-line updates, but HR teams should advise staff to verify connections each morning and expect longer door-to-door times. Travellers connecting to international flights at Barcelona-El Prat may need to budget an extra hour until the speed caps are lifted.
