Rodalies Trains Run Up to an Hour Late After Cable Theft on R4
Rodalies trains ran up to an hour late on Nov. 13 after a cable theft near Fabra i Puig hit the R4 and R7. Up to 15 trains were cancelled.
Commuters on Rodalies de Catalunya, the regional rail network run by Renfe, faced widespread delays on Friday, Nov. 13. Several lines reported waits of between 30 minutes and an hour, and up to 15 trains were cancelled, according to Catalunya Ràdio.
The worst-hit lines are the R4 and R7. Renfe blamed an operational incident together with a cable theft that damaged signalling at Fabra i Puig station in Barcelona.
Where the delays are
Rodalies Catalunya said on social media that R4 trains were running with an average delay of 30 minutes. It added that trains can stop on the track as they approach the affected point.
The R7 is also hit. Adif, the state company that manages the rail infrastructure, said a possible cable theft is affecting signalling between Fabra i Puig and Montcada Bifurcació, and that the R4 and R7 may see delays as a result. The delays on those two lines can average more than 30 minutes.
Other lines have problems too. The R1, R2, R3 and R8 are running late, as are the Regionals (medium-distance services), with delays of between 30 minutes and an hour.
Cancelled trains and missing drivers
Catalunya Ràdio reported that up to 15 trains were cancelled. In some cases the drivers did not turn up for work. In others, drivers said the rolling stock was not in a condition to run. The outlet’s report does not say how many of the cancellations fall into each group, and Renfe described its own part of the problem only as an operational incident.
Renfe, which operates the trains, and Adif, which owns and maintains the tracks and signals, are responsible for different parts of the disruption. Renfe is dealing with the operational side. Adif staff are working on the damaged signalling cable, and the company said it aims to fix it as soon as possible. No repair time has been given.
What this means for riders
Anyone travelling on the R4 or R7 through the Fabra i Puig area should expect waits of at least half an hour on average. Passengers on the R1, R2, R3, R8 and Regionals can see delays of up to an hour, and a cancelled train adds to the wait on lines where services are already late.
Rodalies Catalunya and Adif both use their social media accounts for live updates, and those accounts are where the delay figures for the R4 and R7 were first published. Readers who want background on how the network works and on compensation for late trains can read the guide to Rodalies lines, tickets and delay refunds.
What to watch next
The main open question is how quickly Adif restores the signalling at Fabra i Puig. Until it does, the operators warn that R4 and R7 trains can keep running behind schedule. Renfe has not said whether the driver absences and the rolling stock issues will continue to cancel trains later in the day.
Source: go.eln.cat
