Anyone who uses Rodalies on a daily basis knows that the station display is sometimes more of a statement of intent than a reality. In Barcelona, the train is like that friend who is sometimes late but whom you can’t help loving (or needing). However, standing on the platform without knowing whether you have five minutes or half an hour to wait is one of those experiences that tests anyone’s zen.
Fortunately, the user community and some independent developers have got their act together to create tools that go a step beyond the official information. It’s no longer just a matter of looking at the timetable, but of tracking the train almost by satellite or checking the history of each line’s “sins” to know what to expect. Here’s the definitive selection so that the next delay doesn’t catch you off guard.
The citizen and official radar
If you want to know exactly where that missing train is, these are the most visual and direct options for monitoring the rail map in real time.