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R3 Line Shutdown Begins for 16 Months as Track‑Doubling Works Start in Catalonia

ADIF is doubling 17 kilometers of single track to remove a bottleneck that has long crippled punctuality on one of Catalonia’s busiest commuter corridors.

Overview

  • Train service is suspended between L’Hospitalet and La Garriga until May 2026, then between Mollet Santa Rosa and La Garriga through January 2027.
  • Renfe has launched a large bus replacement plan offering about 43,500 seats per day, with direct and stopping routes centered on Fabra i Puig and Centelles, and roughly 90 staff assisting passengers.
  • On day one, flows at Centelles were orderly, though a separate incident halted trains between Vic and La Garriga, and operators considered extending bus coverage to Vic.
  • Around 21,000 daily users are affected, journey times are expected to rise by 20–30 minutes, and many commuters are rerouting via R2/R4 or private transport.
  • The program, reported at roughly €210 million, focuses on doubling the Parets del VallèsLa Garriga section and includes upgrades at Montcada-Bifurcació to modernize operations.