Good news for those who move around Catalonia by train… or at least halfway. The Govern has announced that, as of July 1, monthly passes for Regional trains will have a 60% discount, instead of the 40% initially planned.
The change comes after numerous criticisms from users -especially from the south of Catalonia- who denounced the comparative disadvantage of the new flat rate of 20 € per month for unlimited travel on Rodalies trains.
To understand the problem: if you live in Sant Vicenç de Calders, you can come to Barcelona for a whole month for 20 €. But if you live in Torredembarra, only 12 km away, the same monthly pass (on a Regional train) will cost you 60 €, even with the new discount. Until now, that journey cost 92 €.
Why Media Distancia users can pay up to 3 times more
The measure seeks to alleviate this imbalance, but the debate is still open: Regional train users will continue to pay three times more for journeys very similar to those of Rodalies, simply because they live a few kilometers beyond the metropolitan area.
For weeks now, user groups have been warning of this “fare injustice” and calling for an urgent review of the new system. The Govern has rectified, but many are still waiting for a more equitable and definitive solution.
What are the prices of Regional trains with the 60% discount?
We leave you a comparative table of the prices of some journeys from Barcelona by Regional train to see how the prices are before the bonus and with the successive changes.
| Route (Regional) | Approx. distance | Previous price (until June 30) | Expected price (40% discount) | Final price (60% discount) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona – Torredembarra | 68 km | 92 € | 55,20 € | 36,80 € |
| Barcelona – Caldes de Malavella | 74 km | ~110 € (estimated) | ~66 € | ~44 € |
| Barcelona – Móra la Nova | 145 km | ~145 € | ~87 € | ~58 € |
| Barcelona – Lleida | 160 km | ~160 € | ~96 € | ~64 € |