The Government denies that the R-13 will lose its direct trains to Barcelona

Renfe, the Department of Territory and FGC are looking for a way to accommodate the R-Aeroport without penalising Regionals or Rodalies. The Generalitat assures that there will be no transfer in Sant Vicenç de Calders, although there is still no definitive proposal.

According to information from the Diari de Tarragona, Renfe, the Department of Territory, and Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC) are working on a complicated allocation of tracks and schedules to accommodate the new services of the R-Aeroport. The aim is for these services not to take away trains from Regionals and Rodalies. The new line will connect with terminals 1 and 2 of Barcelona airport when it comes into service next year.

The options on the table are few, and none prevent the Passeig de Gràcia tunnel from becoming even more congested. One of the alternatives being considered by Renfe's technicians is to utilise the track reservations of the R-13. However, the network's margin is narrow, and any cuts would leave the system more fragile in the face of incidents and delays. For now, there is no closed proposal.

Renfe avoids commenting on the matter and states that it is working on a solution. The Generalitat, for its part, rules out that the final decision will involve cutting the R-13 and forcing travellers to change trains.

“There is no intention for R-13 users to have to transfer in Sant Vicenç de Calders”

So said the Secretary of Mobility and Infrastructure, Manel Nadal, who added that the administration, as the service holder, will not approve any proposal of that kind. According to him, the Generalitat has commitments and will fulfil them.

“It will not authorise or consider any proposal that involves cutting the R-13 in Sant Vicenç de Calders”

The Minister of Territory, Sílvia Paneque, met with user platforms on Tuesday. However, the R-Aeroport was not on the agenda that had been sent to the entities the night before. The spokesperson for Propera Parada Valls, Nil Magrinyà, lamented that the issue was not addressed.

The platforms from Valls and Dignitat a les Vies wanted a written guarantee that the R-13 would not be affected. For travellers from Alt Camp and Baix Camp who use that train every day, the uncertainty remains. With no date for the definitive proposal, the only confirmed fact is that the Generalitat maintains the direct service.