Disruption to Rodalies and Long-Distance Trains in Catalonia Amid Telecommunication Fault
An interruptions in the traditional Catalan rail corridor began in the early hours of the morning after a failure in the Adif telecommunications system disrupted standard operations. High-speed services currently remain active in the region as technicians from Adif work to restore the affected network and resume normal routine across all lines. Renfe has notified customers through its official communications channels and continues to advise travellers to consider alternative modes of transport while restoration work is underway. The situation was first reported around dawn by Renfe and has been tracked by regional operations teams since the fault was detected.
As of 7:00 am, there is no confirmed estimate for when the service will be fully restored. Renfe’s spokesperson for Catalonia, Antonio Carmona, provided updates to the press in Catalonia and in media outlets including Rac1, with details corroborated by agencies covering the incident. The updates emphasize that the disruption was caused by the telecommunications system malfunction and is affecting the coordination of train movements across several control points.
According to the latest information, some trains have continued to run under temporary traffic arrangements managed from a control center in Valencia, covering the Tortosa area in Tarragona. These services are operating with restrictions and are expected to terminate at Tarragona as they reach the regional Barcelona control center, depending on the evolving safety and signaling conditions. This temporary routing is designed to maintain connectivity where feasible while safeguarding passengers and staff.
The malfunction has effectively blocked the critical communication link between the Barcelona command center and the trains in motion. For safety reasons, this interruption prevents roaming operations from restarting until reliable, real-time coordination between control centers is reestablished. Railway authorities are prioritizing passenger safety and system integrity while technicians diagnose the root cause and implement fixes. Updates continue to be issued through Renfe channels and regional transit authorities to keep travellers informed and to minimize disruptions for those who rely on this corridor for work, schooling, and essential travel. The situation remains dynamic as daytime operations evolve and restoration work progresses. The response plan includes stepped restoration with ongoing safety checks, progressive reactivation of signaling, and continuous monitoring of train movements to ensure a secure return to normal service levels. This approach aims to reduce the overall impact on regional mobility while maintaining high safety standards for all on the network.