Bages is set to regain semidirect rail services to Barcelona in 2040 under the Generalitat's Pla de serveis 2030-2040, presented on Tuesday by the Departament de Territori. For daily commuters on the R4 north line, which links Manresa with Barcelona via Vallès, the plan points to a faster option returning, but not for almost 15 years.

The measure matters locally because residents who travel regularly for work, study and appointments will continue relying on current stopping services for the foreseeable future. The semidirect service had previously operated for eight years before being withdrawn, according to reporting by Regió7, and its return is one of the few specific planned improvements identified for the northern section of the R4.

The plan forms part of the Generalitat's wider rail strategy and Rodalies planning published through the Department of Territory. Readers can review how we handle official documents and verification in our Editorial Policy and Source Transparency.

What the 2040 plan says for Manresa and the R4 north line

The Generalitat's planning documents for Rodalies and regional mobility include the return of semidirect trains from Manresa as a future service for the 2030-2040 period. In practical terms, semidirect trains are faster services that skip some stops and run alongside conventional stopping trains.

  • Route affected: R4 north, the line connecting Manresa and the Bages area with Barcelona through Vallès.
  • Planned timing: 2040, according to the Pla de serveis 2030-2040 presented on Tuesday.
  • What changes: Semidirect trains would return alongside conventional services.
  • Local impact: Faster journeys are planned, but not in the short or medium term.
The return of this faster connection with the Barcelona metropolitan area is included in the Pla de serveis 2030-2040 presented by the Departament de Territori.

The official planning framework sits within the Generalitat's broader rail policy, including the Pla de Rodalies and the Estratègia Ferroviària de Catalunya. Those documents set out long-term goals on capacity, efficiency and territorial balance across the network.

Why commuters still face a long wait

For passengers in Manresa and the wider Bages comarca, the announcement is a long-range commitment rather than an immediate timetable change. No earlier launch date for the semidirect restoration is set out in the material provided, and the service is framed as part of the 2040 horizon.

That means most passengers using the line in the coming years should not expect a near-term reduction in journey times from this measure alone. Anyone planning regular travel should continue checking current Rodalies services and any temporary disruption through official rail channels.

The Generalitat has presented the proposal as part of strategic network planning, but infrastructure delivery, service programming and operating changes can depend on later approvals and implementation stages. Where plans remain forward-looking, that should be read as a policy commitment, not a service already in operation.

What readers can do now

Residents and commuters who use the R4 can follow updates through the Generalitat's transport planning pages and the Pla de Rodalies documentation. For questions about the planning process, the official contact point is the Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica.

  • Check current R4 journey options and stopping patterns before travelling.
  • Watch for future updates to Rodalies plans affecting Manresa and Bages.
  • Use the department's official contact channel for planning or public information queries.

If you have a correction or want to flag a transport issue affecting your area, you can also reach our newsroom through Contact Us.

Primary sources: Departament de Territori, Generalitat de Catalunya, Govern de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya, Govern de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori, Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat, Generalitat de Catalunya, Presidència de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori i Sostenibilitat, Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica - Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica - Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica - Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica - Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica - Generalitat de Catalunya. Reported by Source Text Link, Regió 7.