Catalonia’s commuter network Rodalies reinstated full service on the R2 Nord line—the rail artery connecting Barcelona-El Prat airport with the city and the Costa Brava—early on 26 July. The line had been suspended since a 17-metre-deep, 19-metre-wide sinkhole opened on 22 July near Vallbona during tunnelling works. Infrastructure manager ADIF completed emergency back-fill operations on Saturday night, allowing Renfe to run empty “white runs” before re-opening the track with a temporary 30 km/h speed limit at the repaired section. The outage forced thousands of air passengers onto replacement buses and taxis, adding up to two hours to the usual 25-minute journey between the airport and Barcelona-Sants station. Several airlines reported increased no-shows for morning departures as travellers underestimated road congestion on the C-31. Hoteliers near the airport said average transfer costs for crews doubled during the disruption, and tour operators had to charter coaches for cruise-ship arrivals. Rodalies also resumed limited service on the mountain route R3, which had been halted by an unrelated signalling failure. ADIF will continue geotechnical monitoring around Vallbona, and a permanent speed restriction may stay in place until autumn. For mobility planners the incident is a reminder of the fragility of Barcelona’s airport ground-access options during peak season. Companies with expatriate staff arriving at El Prat should consider pre-booking licensed VTC transfers or using the Aerobús shuttle as a contingency. The Catalan government has convened a task-force to reassess risk protocols for excavation works adjacent to active rail corridors. Although normal schedules are back, Renfe warns of minor knock-on delays while timetables re-stabilise. Passengers should verify live departure boards and allow extra time when connecting to AVE high-speed services at Sants.
Source: EL PAÍS
