Overview
- Renfe and Rodalies now operate continuous substitute buses along the entire R3 route on the same schedule as trains by adding four new routes under an extended contract.
- The roll-out mirrors regular train timetables with hourly and two-hour frequencies on different legs, including services that link Centelles with Vic and Centelles with Ripoll and a direct Vic–Ripoll service.
- Officials say the move responds to recurring infrastructure attacks and faults, with Renfe reporting frequent copper thefts, repeated fallen trees and signalling incidents as the main causes of disruption.
- Passenger reactions are mixed: travelers on lowland sections have welcomed the buses for reliability, while riders in the mountainous northern stretch prefer trains because road journeys are much longer.
- The measure is an operational fix rather than a repair of underlying problems, and its contract costs and large-scale vegetation work to date highlight ongoing vulnerability and potential for continued disruptions.