Braking Smoke Forces Evacuation of R2 Sud Train at Passeig de Gràcia
Firefighters cleared an R2 Sud Rodalies train at Passeig de Gràcia on Friday after braking filled it with smoke. R2 trains skipped the stop and ran late.
Firefighters evacuated passengers from an R2 Sud commuter train at Passeig de Gràcia station on Friday morning, at around 8:30, after a large amount of smoke built up inside. Renfe, the state rail operator that runs the Rodalies (Catalonia’s commuter rail) network, said the smoke came from the train’s braking.
For roughly half an hour, R2, R2 Nord, R2 Sud and regional trains passed through the station without stopping. Renfe said services could still run up to 30 minutes late after the stop reopened.
How the morning unfolded at Passeig de Gràcia
The Bombers de Barcelona (the city fire service) took passengers off the train. El País reported that emergency crews carried out the evacuation, and Metrópoli Abierta described the smoke inside the train as heavy.
Rodalies Catalunya posted on social media that trains would not stop at the station because of an incident there, and it pointed travelers to an alternative service. Renfe said it would bring back the stop once the firefighters approved trains running through the station again.
According to Renfe sources quoted by Spanish media, the operator first waited for the smoke to clear. The fire service then allowed trains back through Passeig de Gràcia at 9:00. “Once the incident is resolved, trains stop at this station again,” the company said, as reported by the Spanish press.
Complaints about access and information
Renfe described the incident as resolved, but some passengers wrote on social media that entry to the station was still restricted and that police were outside. Metrópoli Abierta reported this. Riders also complained that they got little information while the smoke was in the station. One user wrote to Rodalies in Catalan to say people were choking on smoke and nobody was telling them anything.
The cause of the smoke beyond the braking, and whether anyone needed medical care, was not disclosed.
What it means for R2 commuters
The R2 family of lines runs through Passeig de Gràcia in central Barcelona. When the stop is closed, riders heading for the city center have to get off at another station or use a different service. Friday’s closure also hit regional trains from the south, which share the route. Renfe warned that delays of up to 30 minutes could continue on the affected lines after the station reopened.
The complaints focused on communication. Passengers on platforms and trains said they had no updates while the smoke cleared, and the main official notice was a short Rodalies post on social media.
Another transport date to watch
The incident comes ahead of a separate disruption. Metrópoli Abierta reported that the Generalitat (Catalan government) has set minimum services at 25% for the metro, buses, tram and trains on Nov. 11.
Sources: Metrópoli Abierta, 20minutos, El País
