The Generalitat, Catalonia’s regional government, and Renfe, Spain’s state-owned rail operator, are expected to finalise a service contract for the Rodalies commuter rail network within the next week, according to reporting by La Vanguardia published on Sunday 4 October.

For Rodalies commuters, the agreement would retain Renfe as the operator until 2028 while the new Rodalies de Catalunya joint venture prepares to take over the model of railway management. The proposed contract still requires approval from the Generalitat’s Executive Council and Spain’s Council of Ministers.

Contract would set service standards until 2028

The agreement is intended to define the legal, technical and financial terms under which Renfe provides the commuter service. The Generalitat became the formal commissioning authority for Rodalies in 2010, with responsibility for fares, timetables and service frequencies, while rail infrastructure remained under Adif and trains and staff under Renfe.

La Vanguardia reported that the contract would include:

  • the services Renfe must provide on the Rodalies network;
  • quality standards and monitoring arrangements;
  • rules for funding, service changes and resolving disputes; and
  • a joint monitoring committee able to assess compliance and approve financial settlements.

The paper reported that the arrangement would act as a bridge until 2028, when the planned transfer to Rodalies de Catalunya is intended to be completed. It would also avoid the need to put the commuter network out to competitive tender under European public-service rail rules, provided the future regional public operator meets the required conditions.

Joint operator was established in January

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility said in an official statement issued on 12 January 2026 that Rodalies de Catalunya SME SA had been created as the operational vehicle for the new management model.

The company is owned 50.1% by Renfe and 49.9% by the Generalitat, according to the ministry. Its nine-member board has five representatives appointed by the Generalitat and four by Renfe, including a workers’ representative.

The proposed Renfe contract is due to cover the 2026–2028 period while the new company obtains the railway undertaking licence and safety certificate needed to operate services.

Primary sources: Semprún Wilde África Marta. Reported by lavanguardia.com, Cabré i Barcelona. Roser, transparencia.fgc.cat, Generalitat de Catalunya. Comissió Jurídica Assessora, La Vanguardia.