Overview
- EL PAÍS reports that passengers are quitting Rodalies, Catalonia’s commuter rail, after persistent delays and disruptions.
- Official data show weekday use fell by 42,798 since 2018 to about 358,186, with an early-crisis drop of up to 30%.
- The Catalan government has a 2026–2030 overhaul plan to upgrade tracks and lines, yet many users expect improvement to take years.
- One commuter said daily travel ate about two and a half hours and caused constant stress until a job move cut out train trips.
- A student switched from trains to a Barcelona rental after chronic lateness and costly AVE tickets, while others now rely on scarce R3 buses or drive, citing safety worries at night, strikes, accidents and overcrowding.