Barcelona, (EFE).- The Minister for the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, announced that Catalonia will resume the Rodalies and Regional services from 6:00 AM on Thursday, which had been suspended following the accident in Gelida. A stretch of the AP-7 motorway heading south, from Martorell to Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, will remain closed. During a press conference, Dalmau expressed his condolences to the families of the 28-year-old train driver who lost his life in the accident, as well as to the 63-year-old man who died in Palau-Sator due to the storm. Dalmau emphasised that the decision to suspend Rodalies, Regional, and Medium Distance services in Catalonia was made for safety reasons. Once verified, the recovery of the service will commence tomorrow at 6:00 AM, although the stretch affected by the accident on the R4 between Martorell and Vilafranca will remain closed. Dalmau warned that tomorrow will not be an easy day, as the resumption of railway services is expected to be complex, including in terms of labour relations. Dalmau highlighted that, for safety reasons, a section of the AP-7 heading south, between Martorell and Sant Sadurní d’Anoia, will also remain closed. Dalmau acknowledged that the Government is aware of the inconveniences these restrictions create for the public, and therefore has requested apologies and understanding, although he stressed that the only criterion guiding the Catalan executive in these circumstances is safety. Paneque specified that the service will start at 6:00 AM across the entire Rodalies network gradually, without clarifying whether some lines will begin operations earlier or later. There will be no trains on the stretch where the accident occurred, where an alternative transport plan will be implemented to ensure the continuity of the R4, nor on the R3, which is already disrupted due to doubling works and has an alternative plan in place.
Catalonia will regain Rodalies tomorrow, but there will be a section of the AP-7 closed in the southward direction.
