Catalonia Train Strike Paralyzes Rail and Roads into Barcelona
Machinists halt services demanding safety guarantees, worsening traffic chaos after Gelida accident and AP-7 closure.
Key Points
- Train services suspended as Semaf rejects safety measures without written guarantees from Adif.
- AP-7 closure and Gelida accident cause 18km backups on A-2, 85% surge on C-32.
- Catalan government opens disciplinary file against operator Renfe.
- Traffic Service opens bus lanes to all vehicles, sets diversions, suspends low-emission zones.
Train services across Catalonia, including Rodalies and regional lines, remained suspended on Thursday morning as machinists refused to resume operations without written safety guarantees from Adif. The Semaf union described current measures as inadequate, while Renfe acknowledged it could not guarantee service until an agreement is reached. The Catalan government has opened a disciplinary file against the operator.
The rail disruption compounded chaos on major roads leading into Barcelona, exacerbated by the prior Gelida rail accident and a closure of the AP-7 motorway between Martorell and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, announced Wednesday for safety reasons. Traffic on the A-2 backed up to 18 kilometres towards the city, while volumes on the C-32 surged by 85%. Significant delays and diversions also hit the C-33, C-58, and C-16 roads.
The Catalan Traffic Service responded by opening the bus-VAO lane to all vehicles except trucks, designating alternative routes, and temporarily suspending low-emission zones in the metropolitan area. Authorities urged the public to use alternative transport options and check official channels for travel updates.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: