The Rubí tunnel in Barcelona reopened on Thursday for freight trains, according to Adif. This follows the completion of the first phase of structural reinforcement work after a rockfall in January forced its closure.
Óscar Puente, Spain's Minister of Transport, highlighted the importance of this reopening on social media, calling it "a key axis to connect industrial centres and the Port of Barcelona with the French border." The provisional reopening allows trains to use one track between Castellbisbal and Rubí-Can Vallhonrat for 12 hours a day, from Wednesday to Sunday, and for 21 hours on Mondays and Tuesdays. This arrangement will last for at least one month while further work is completed.
Adif stated in a press release that these conditions prioritise freight services due to their economic importance for the region. The operator also confirmed that efforts are underway to reopen the tunnel for passenger traffic, specifically for the Rodalies R8 line, "in the coming weeks."
Emergency Works Across the Network
Emergency works to reinforce the railway network have been ongoing since a Rodalies R4 train accident in Gelida, Barcelona, on 20 January. That incident was caused by a landslide onto the tracks. In the Rubí tunnel, Adif is reinforcing 123 metres of the structure, which spans over 900 metres in total.
Adif continues to work towards completing the reinforcement and restoring full service on both tracks. The partial reopening marks a step towards full operational capacity for this important railway link.
