Rodalies Users Protest in Barcelona Demanding Better Train Service
Barcelona, February 6, 2026 – After weeks of service cuts, safety failures, and a perceived lack of transparency in the Rodalies train service, associations and citizens have decided to take action. They are holding a protest this Saturday, February 7th, in Barcelona, holding Adif, Renfe, and the respective governments responsible for what they describe as systematic underinvestment in infrastructure and poor governance of the system.
Demonstration Route and Schedule
Various platforms of users affected by the poor functioning of the railway network in Catalonia have called for a demonstration next Saturday, February 7th, in Barcelona. The protest, scheduled for 5:00 PM to avoid coinciding with another demonstration called by the ANC on the same day, will begin at Estación de França and conclude at Plaça Sant Jaume, in front of the Palau de la Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council.
“We point to Adif as the main culprit for the chaos, because it has not done its homework for years,” stated Gina Montesinos, secretary of the Promoció del Transport Públic (PTP) association. The user platforms have chosen Estación de França and Plaça Sant Jaume as the two key points of the protest. Estación de França houses Adif’s offices, where protesters intend to denounce years of “lack of investment” and care for infrastructure and users. Plaça Sant Jaume, home to the Generalitat Government, will be where users end their mobilization and demand support from the leaders.
“We Need to Be Prepared”
“We need real changes and for the Government to help us achieve them,” Montesinos emphasized. To this end, the associations consider the support of civil society essential. “We are used to carrying out small mobilizations, but this chaos affects more than 400,000 users. We want all those affected to feel identified and join forces to demand solutions,” Montesinos added. To achieve this, user associations are contacting various Catalan entities, whose endorsements will be announced “in the coming days,” along with further details about the demonstration.
Key Demands from Affected Users
Affected users are demanding two main changes from railway network managers. Firstly, they insist that Adif develop a public operational plan with reliable protocols, “not only at a reactive level but also preventive. Storms will continue to come, and we need to be prepared,” Montesinos declared. Secondly, they call for greater coordination in the governance of the railway sector by Adif, Renfe, the Ministry of Transport, and the regional government. They believe that the Catalan railway network needs greater efficiency and a clearer power structure.
The management of “AutoBus S.A.” issued an official statement stating that the company is in a difficult financial situation. According to the CEO, Tomasz Lewandowski, the company’s revenues in 2024 fell by 8 percent compared to the previous year, mainly due to fewer passengers using public transport after the pandemic.
“We understand the employees’ demands, but the company’s finances do not allow for 20 percent raises. We are able to offer a 7 percent salary increase, which will still require cuts in other areas of operation,” the statement said.
The company also stressed that operating costs have increased significantly due to rising fuel, electricity, and spare parts prices for buses. In the last year alone, fleet operating costs increased by 12 percent.
Union Rejects 7 Percent Offer
The unions rejected the 7 percent raise proposal as “insufficient and below inflation.” They announced that talks would continue but stated that if no agreement is reached by November 30, they would hold a strike referendum among all union members.
The protest in Gdansk is part of a broader wave of discontent among public transport drivers across Poland. In recent months, similar actions have taken place in Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz, and Poznan. In most cases, drivers received raises of 10-15 percent.
City Prepares Contingency Plans for Strike
Gdansk authorities announced that in the event of a strike, contingency plans would be prepared, including shortening some routes and increasing the frequency of trams. The city is also considering hiring buses from private carriers to minimize the effects of a potential strike on residents.
According to a survey conducted in August by the Gdansk City Council, approximately 180,000 people use bus transport daily. A possible strike could paralyze the city and affect hundreds of thousands of residents, especially those commuting to work and school.
Roundtable Scheduled for November 2
Representatives of the Marshal’s Office announced a roundtable discussion involving trade unions, the company’s management, and representatives of city and regional authorities. The meeting is scheduled for November 2.
