Adif has announced the resumption of freight traffic through the Rubí Tunnel in Barcelona, following the completion of the first phase of the main works to reinforce, stabilize, and improve the structure.
This temporary reopening will operate on a single-track basis between Castellbisbal and Rubí-Can Vallhonrat, for 12 hours daily from Wednesday through Sunday and for 21 hours on Mondays and Tuesdays. The measure will remain in effect for at least one month, until the ongoing work is completed and traffic returns to both tracks.
These measures and operating conditions address the need to prioritize the resumption of freight traffic, given its importance to the region’s economy. Adif is continuing the work with the aim of making the infrastructure available for passenger service in the coming period.
Since the end of January, through the administrative emergency mechanism, structural reinforcement work has been underway on a 123-meter section of the tunnel’s total length of over 900 meters.
Initially, the work was carried out in parallel with traffic windows for freight trains and for services on the R8 line of the Rodalies network (serving the Barcelona metropolitan area and much of Catalonia) between Rubí-Can Vallhonrat and Granollers-Centre, but this resulted in lower-than-planned productivity and extended completion deadlines.
At the same time, as part of Adif’s ongoing monitoring of the tunnel structure, several indicators were observed in early March suggesting the need for urgent intervention. In this context, as of March 14, Adif decided to immediately carry out reinforcement and stabilization work in the most affected areas, covering approximately 60 meters of the tunnel, which required a complete suspension of traffic.
In the remaining 63 meters of the 123 meters included in the current phase, the foundations and a large portion of the steel frames have already been completed, with the installation of the remaining elements, the steel formwork, concrete pouring, and shotcrete yet to be finalized. However, these works will once again be carried out in parallel with freight train traffic during the established time slots along the Rubí Tunnel in Barcelona.
Gradual Reopening of Traffic in the Rubí Tunnel
As part of the Rubí Tunnel stabilization project, work is proceeding in phases, with a focus on infrastructure safety and the gradual resumption of rail traffic. The structural reinforcement work, carried out under an emergency procedure, targets the most vulnerable areas of the tunnel, where metal support frames were installed and subsequently integrated into a reinforced concrete structure.
This technical approach has, at times, allowed for the maintenance of traffic windows for freight trains and regional services; however, the complexity of the work has at times required the complete suspension of traffic to enable rapid and effective interventions in critical areas.
Continuous monitoring of the tunnel, carried out through an extensive network of over 30 sensors, provides real-time data on structural behavior, allowing work to be adjusted according to developments on-site. Following the completion of the emergency phase, the project will proceed to an additional construction phase aimed at ensuring the complete reinforcement of the entire length of the tunnel through standard public procurement procedures.
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