Rodalies commuter transfer to start with R1 between La Sagrera and Maçanet

The transfer of the Rodalies commuter train network was part of a political deal between pro-independence Esquerra Republicana and Socialists to reelect Pedro Sánchez as Spanish PM back in November 2023.

On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, a significant step toward the transfer was taken. The Catalan government, led by Socialist leader Salvador Illa, requested that the Spanish cabinet withdraw part of the R1 network from the overall network and transfer it to regional authorities.

The transfer will begin with the R1 network between La Sagrera station in Barcelona and Maçanet-Massanes, south of Girona. The management change will take place in 2025. However, before the Catalan rail operator Ifercat can fully manage the transferred commuter line, the regional authorities and the Spanish rail operator Adif will have to jointly manage the lines.

"We'll need to strengthen Ifercat," sources of the territory ministry said, regarding the public rail operator that will need more staff and a larger budget.

R1 will be the first line to be transferred, but according to the agreement signed between ERC and the Socialists, the R2 South and R3 lines will follow. 

Compared to the latter, R1, the Rodalies commuter line, is less complex to transfer because it does not share rails with regional, long-distance or freight train lines.

"The transfer of the R1 is the first step towards a future zero-carbon public transport network," Sílvia Paneque, territory minister, said during a press conference on Tuesday.

73 kilometers

The entire transferred structure between Maçanet-Massanes and Bifurcació Sagrera includes 73 kilometers of tracks across 21 municipalities between Girona and Barcelona.

The line has 22 train stations, 12 level crossings, eight tunnels, 514 underground corridors, 36 elevators, and seven escalators. 

"More is needed" vs "Catalan government cannot manage"

Esquerra Republicana's leader Oriol Junqueras has been one of the most vocals after the announcement by the Catalan government.

"This is a measure that is part of the solution, but it is only one part of this solution," he said in an interview with the Spanish RTVE public broadcaster before adding that "more is needed."

Esquerra's support for Sánchez's presidential bid continues to be crucial as the Spanish cabinet governs with a minority government in Congress. In Catalonia, the Catalan Socialist party requires the support of the left-wing party to pass its 2025 spending plan and other major legislation, as it also governs in the minority.

"We await for the Socialists to comply with the agreements, but they say they need time to implement them. It does not make sense to reach new deals if the previous ones are still not fulfilled," he concluded.

Far-left pro-independence CUP party criticized that the transfer is made "by parts."

"It is difficult to understand that the transfer is not of the whole Rodalies commuter train network," Maria Pilar Castillejo, CUP MP, told journalists.

The pro-union far-right Vox party rejected the transfer of the network. "Investments are very necessary. Our region and our country need to improve a lot, but this will not happen if we give up to the Catalan government, which does not know how to manage," spokesperson Joan Garriga said.